Tag: Purulia

Do not neglect Bengal: WB CM tells Prime Minister

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee  with the Prime Minister to India today and will reiterate the demands of the State.

“Bengal should not be deprived and neglected. I raised this issue with the PM,” she said after her meeting. “No state should be neglected. We want every state to prosper. People of Bengal also should not be neglected,” she added.

The Chief Minister said, “Bengal suffered a lot due to Left rule. They incurred heavy debt. We increased our revenues but it is taken away to pay installment.”

“Earlier CMs could raise issues of their State and plan sizes were made at Planning Commission. There should be a full-fledged meet of Niti Ayog where CMs can raise issues of their States,” the CM added.

WB CM also highlighted how Bengal has been ignored in the list of heritage tourism sites by Centre. “Centre has drawn up a list of heritage tourism sites but places like Belur, Dakkhineshwar, Tarapith etc do not feature in it. Bengal is the land of Netaji. Bengal is where Tagore was born, where Ramakrishna spread spirituality. Bengal should not be neglected,” she said.

Bengal deprived of funds

West Bengal is being denied and deprived by the Centre in every sector and has not yet received the financial assistance for flood and drought relief.

The Centre has slashed funds for 37 projects and 50 schemes in the last one year. Earlier, under the ICDS scheme, the State contributed 10 per cent and the Centre 90 per cent. Now it has become the reverse.

The West Bengal Chief minister has been repeatedly asking for funds from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in 12 districts, but no money was received from the Centre.

The State Government had arranged for Rs 1500 crore for flood relief and Rs 3000 crore for developmental work at Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts which were under BRGF.

The Centre has also been slashing funds for other projects such as police modernisation and Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan. Bengal has 18,000 SSKs and 2,000 MSKs that are run by the panchayat department. For these, the Centre used to provide 65 per cent of the salary bills of 75,000 teachers engaged in the units. The Centre has now put more burdens on the State by changing the Centre-State share.

In August, the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister and demanded Rs 6,000 crore to tackle the post-flood situation in Bengal.

WB CM announces funds for drought-affected areas of Purulia

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during her visit Bandwan in Purulia district today announced a fund of Rs 50 crore for people affected by drought.

Once a Maoist den, peace prevails in the area now. WB CM address a public meeting where she inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for a bouquet of projects including Sabuj Sathi scheme.

The projects WB CM inaugurated today include eco-tourism projects, road projects, water supply projects, several health care projects, Krishak Bazaars, hostels for boys and girls, administrative buildings, auditorium among other things..

The West Bengal Chief Minister laid the foundation stones for healthcare projects, Karma Tirtha, roads, bridges, water supply projects, schools among other things.

The CM also distributed several services including Kanyashree, Sikshashree, equipment to farmers, Kisan and artisan credit cards, different agricultural machinery and equipment, pattas, financial assistance to folk artists, dhamsa and madol.

Highlights of her speech:

  • We are giving away various services to 85000 people in Purulia district today.
  • You cannot love yourself unless you love poor people. I love Jangalmahal.
  • We want to set up an academy for Chhau dance and archery in Purulia.
  • Our brothers and sisters of Purulia won first prize in Delhi with their Chhau dance.
  • We have decided to distribute cycles to 40 lakh students. 25 lakh students will get cycles by January, 2016.
  • 80% people in Purulia have received government services so far. We have to reach more and more people.
  • We have started a social security scheme for kendu leaf collectors.
  • WB Govt will celebrate Lok Utsav in Kolkata in December.
  • When kendu leaf collectors attain the age of 60, the govt will give them Rs 1.5 lakh as pension.
  • We are giving forest pattas to tribal people. We believe rights of forest should remain with people who live in forest.
  • Subsidies for self-help groups has been increased and interest on loan has been slashed.
  • We have started a new project “Jal Tirtha” for supplying water to arid areas of Purulia.
  • We are making arrangements for agriculture in 7000 hectares of land in Purulia.
  • ITIs are coming up at Balarampur and Raghunathpur. Work for 3 more ITIs is going on. Polytechnic college coming up at Baghmundi.
  • Three fair price medicine shops have come up in Purulia. One more has been inaugurated today.
  • SNSU, CCU, Digital X Ray facilities have been started in Purulia district.
  • Two multi super speciality hospitals are coming up in the district.
  • Seven Krishak Bazaars have been set up in Purulia district. We are setting up a Krishi Bhavan.
  • We will take up 255 new irrigation projects for Purulia, Bankura, Midnapore districts.
  • We have started schools that impart education in Ol-Chiki language.
  • Seven Karma Tirtha hubs will come up in Purulia which will lead to employment of youths.
  • 16 lakh students from SC/ST communities are getting the benefits of Shikshasree scheme. 28 lakh girls are registered under Kanyashree.
  • Ramakrishna Mission will open a tribal school in Purulia.
  • The road infrastructure in the district has improved.
  • We will ensure every household in the district receives electricity soon.
  • We are promoting eco-tourism. We want more tourists to come to this district.
  • We are yet to receive relief for flood from the Centre. If we do not receive our rights, we will agitate for it.
  • I announce a relief fund of Rs 50 crore for drought-affected areas of Purulia.
  • 12 lakh people in Purulia alone get rice at Rs 2/kg. From now on 26 lakh people in drought-affected areas will get similar benefits.
  • We have taken up a water supply project worth Rs 2000 Cr for the district.
  • The CPM incurred debts and Centre is taking away our revenues.
  • Purulia is so beautiful. The place has so much tourism potential. The days of violence are over now. Peace prevails here.
  • Trinamool is a party of struggle. We are here to work for the people.
  • A lot of investments are coming in at Raghunathpur.
  • By Durga Pujo next year we will create a new sub-division in Purulia. It will lead to decentralisation and even better governance.
  • 46000 folk artists have been registered and are receiving monthly stipends. They also perform at govt functions.
  • A lot of youths from Jangalmahal have been recruited as junior constable in the past. Additional 1000 youths will be recruited soon.
  • Entire world will take note of Bengal one day. The youth are the future of the country.
  • Centre has stopped giving funds for Asha, ICDS, Sarva Siksha Mission. Despite financial crunch, we are funding them.
  • There is no discrimination among people on the lines of caste, creed, religion in Bengal.
  • Peace has returned to Purulia, Bankura, Midnapore. I am proud of Purulia. The district is close to my heart.

Need to spread the news of developmental works: Abhishek Banerjee at Purulia

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Trinamool Youth Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee conducted a workshop for the panchayet and municipal elected representatives of the party at Purulia on the adjoining grounds of the Purulia Sainik School.

He laid stress on the works undertaken by the West Bengal Government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and urged the activists to spread the news of the developments so that all people could avail the benefits. He urged the people present to form groups of about 20-22 people in every block to carry out the campaigns. He stressed on working unitedly and respecting the party symbol.

The firebrand leader said that he will be visiting all the 20 blocks in the district of Purulia and urged that Trinamool should win in all the nine assembly seats in the forthcoming election.

He said the wave of development that the State is experiencing cannot be stopped by pelting stones.

Connecting with people through football in Jangalmahal

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Football tournaments have pushed away the dark days of guns and bullets in Jangalmahal. And taking the lead are the spirited women of Jangalmahal who have been participating in the football tournaments across the districts of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore.

The women’s football initiative has been promoted by West Bengal Police as part of a public relations strategy. The region, which was once controlled by the Maoist rebels, gradually got rid of the grotesque web of insurgency.

The State police thought it wise to further the peace process by engaging the villagers in positive activities, and football became a major tool in this endeavour. It helped to counter the disenchantment among the locals who warmly responded to the football tournaments.

Women of Jangalmahal, especially in pockets like Bandwan, Baghmundi, Barabazar, Balarampur and Ashra of Purulia district, have been regularly participating in the football tournaments.

Over the time their enthusiasm has touched women in other districts as well — football tournaments are also being organised in West Midnapore and Bankura. The women’s football league will begin in West Midnapore. It has been organised by the district sports body.

As many as 12 women’s football teams from the district are slated to participate in the league. The state government has also organised two separate Jangalmahal Cups for women and men.

A few months back a football tournament for women was organised in Purulia’s Kashipur Assembly constituency. It was an initiative of local legislator Swapan Belthariya. Based on the overwhelming response, the state government decided to set up a women’s football academy at Kashipur.

The construction work for the academy is now underway. Funds and seven acres of land for the academy has been received. Preliminary work of land-levelling has started.

The football tournaments helped the district administration to reach out to the people living in far-flung areas of the district. It helped to build a good rapport with them. They have actually shunned the path of violence and joined the mainstream.

For years, Jangalmahal witnessed insurgency orchestrated by the Maoists. The region had recorded about 350 killings between 2010 and early-2011, but it witnessed none since 2012.

The Mamata Banerjee-led state government also announced rehabilitation packages for the rebels and announced that the entire region would come under the purview of ‘Below Poverty Level’ category so that the villagers can enjoy certain benefits like purchasing rice at a concessional rate of Rs 2.

Abhishek Banerjee

Abhishek Banerjee to address a rally at Baharampur today

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Trinamool Youth Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee will hold a mass rally at Textile College More, Baharampur Town (Murshidabad district) at 2 PM today.

The meeting is a part of his district visits ahead of the 21 July Saheed Divas rally. He had earlier started the district campaign with a mass meeting at Basirhat in North 24 Parganas and Ranaghat in Nadia.

The Youth Congress President will hold similar rallies at Bardhaman, Purulia, Kushmandi, Panshkura, Jainagar, Howrah and Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee will shatter the dreams of CPM, Cong, BJP: Abhishek Banerjee

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Trinamool Congress MP and TMYC National President, Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday addressed a rally at Ranaghat, Nadia. He said those who are trying to come to power in Bengal through riots will fail.

“Mamata Banerjee will shatter the dreams of BJP, CPI (M) and Congress. She cannot be bowed down by propaganda. The people are with her,” he added.

“I am not afraid of lawsuits against me. If needed, I may go to jail too,” Abhishek added.

Abhishek also asked TMC workers who are involved with syndicates supplying construction materials to leave the party as “there is no place for them in the Trinamool Congress.”

He is currently touring districts as a run up to the Shahid Divas rally to be held at Dharmatala on 21 July. The Youth Congress President will hold another rally at Baharampur on June 26. He will be holding similar rallies at Bardhaman, Purulia, Kushmandi, Panshkura, Jainagar, Howrah and Kolkata.

Accident insurance scheme for self-help groups started in Bengal

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An accident insurance scheme for self-help groups (SHGs) has been started in West Bengal. The implementation of the scheme has begun with the district of Purulia. It is to be extended to the district of Nadia, and in around a month, to the rest of the State. An additional 2% subsidy on interest against loans taken by the SHGs has also been announced.

About the scheme

The accident insurance scheme for the SHGs, administered by West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited, has been made applicable to all members aged 18 to 60 years. The compensation for accident-related deaths has been settled at Rs 1 lakh. This compensation amount is also applicable to those who fall in the categories of total permanent disability, partial permanent disability and temporary total disability, as per an announcement by the Department of Self-Help Group & Self-Employment.

Rs 40,000 has been earmarked for accident-linked treatment and surgery. For conducting the last rites of accident victims, a maximum of Rs 2,500 would be given. To compensate a person for the wage loss suffered as a result of an accident, Rs 100 per day would be paid for a maximum period of 30 days.

Loans taken by the SHGs from banks carry an interest of 11%. Of this 11%, till now, 7% used to be paid by the State Government in the form of subsidy. Therefore, SHGs had to pay 4% of the interest. Now, the State has decided to pay an additional 2% of the interest, to lower the burden on the SHGs. Hence, from now on, the SHGs would have to pay only 2% of the interest.

As of now, this new subsidy scheme would benefit those SHGs that had applied for loans from April 2014 onwards. However, efforts are on to extend this subsidy to those groups too that have been paying their interests from earlier.

According to the State Government, more than 50 lakh members from the almost 5 lakh SHGs would be benefited by all the above-mentioned measures.

 

Image via Milaap.org

 

WB CM interacts with kids at Garh Panchkot school

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The humanitarian face of West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was once more evident to the people when the teachers and students of Rangadahar Suilibari Junior High School in at Garh Panchakot in Purulia experienced a surprise visit by Didi.

The Chief Minister, who was staying the Government guest house in Garh Panchakot decided to take a walk and mingle with the locals as usual. Her first stop was the junior school. She entered the schools and spent time with the students,, asked them how the food provided for mid-day meal  was, if they were provided with eggs and if they are getting the text books and study materials provided under the Sarba Sikhsha Aviyan.

She then held conversation with the teaching staffs on availability of the required materials. When the Chief Minister came to know that one of the main needs of the locality was the upgradation of the school to a high school, she immediately called up the education minister to implement the request.

On last Sunday, the West Bengal Chief Minister, while on a walk near the Panchet dam had held conversation with the local people of the Maheshnadi village. She had listened to their plight regarding shortage of water and had given instruction to the district administration to take immediate adequate measures.

WB CM conducts administrative review meeting in Purulia

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday held a meeting with the top district administration officials and legislators to review the progress of the development works carried out by different departments of Purulia district, an official said.

The meeting was attended by District Magistrate Tanmay Chakraborty, Superintendent of Police Rupesh Kumar, all the sub-divisional officers, block development officers, MP Mriganka Mahto and all the legislators of the district, the official said.

The Chief Minister laid special stress on the working of various departments like agriculture and health. She also distributed cheques to some farmers who suffered crop losses in unseasonal rains and nor’wester.

WB CM directed the officials to speed up the development works. She laid stress on the drinking water problem faced by local people. She also said that Raghunathpur would be developed as an industrial hub.

No compromise on land bill: Mamata Banerjee

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There would be no compromise on the Centre’s land acquisition bill, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee said, reiterating her stand of not supporting the bill.

“Why should we support the land bill? Land bill, no compromise,” Ms Banerjee told reporters in Purulia.

“It is linked with soil. It is linked with our struggle,” she said. She was in Purulia for attending an administrative review meeting to take stock of the developmental projects in the district.

“We have made our stand clear in Parliament. I sat on a hunger strike for 26 days against forcible land acquisition,” Mamata Banerjee had said.

“It was our movement against forcible land acquisition which had sparked the demand for abolition of the draconian Land Acquisition Act of 1894,” she stated.