People will oust BJP from power in 2019: Abhishek Banerjee

People will oust BJP from power in 2019: Abhishek Banerjee

Posted on July 28, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

National President of Trinamool Youth Congress and MP Abhishek Banerjee today took on the BJP at a rally in Medinipur. He also countered the Prime Minister’s ‘syndicate’ allegations against the party and said Trinamool is people’s syndicate, and that the people will dislodge the BJP from power in 2019.

Highlights of Abhishek Banerjee’s speech:

We are not a rich party like BJP. We do not have enough financial resources. We could not erect shades at this rally venue, like the BJP did by selling the country for crores of money. Those who cannot even erect a pandal properly are dreaming of winning in Bengal. The soil of Medinipur is one of struggle and fighting. This soil does not tolerate lies. People of Medinipur have not learnt to bow down.
Those who have come to this rally, braving the downpour, have come here not to listen to political speeches, but with the resolve to oust BJP from Delhi in 2019.
The Prime Minister addressed a rally here in this venue on July 16. It was titled ‘Krishi Kalyan Samabesh’. But one could hardly spot a farmer that day. They brought people from UP, Bihar, Odisha, and 10 districts. We have the details.
BJP does not understand the pain of farmers. The highest number of farmer suicides occurs in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. If the Prime Minister really cares for them, he should organise a farmers’ rally in these States. More than 12,000 farmers have committed suicide. Seven farmers were killed, in the same way like Nandigram, in Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 80 children died in a hospital in Gorakhpur due to lack of oxygen. More than 120 people died due to demonetisation, while waiting in queues.
The Prime Minister did not utter a word on development. He only uttered lies after lies. There is autocracy going on in the country. Everyday names of stations are being changed, Red Fort is being given away to private entities, Taj Mahal is being insulted. Farmer suicides are increasing. Yet, the PM and BJP President are giving bhashan.
The Prime Minister said, Trinamool is running a syndicate. We are a syndicate of the people. Our syndicate ended the 34-year old misrule of the Left. The syndicate brought peace of Jangalmahal and Darjeeling. In the days to come, the syndicate will dislodge BJP from power.
We are ready to give our lives but we will not these people dupe the people of Bengal. We will not allow communal tension in the State. We believe in Hinduism of Swami Vivekananda not that of Yogi Adityanath. Our Hinduism does not talk of divisive politics, destruction or violence. We also have devotees of Ram in our party, but unlike their Ram Bhakts, we do not organized rallies with arms. Religion for Trinamool is a unifying force, not divisive force.
I want to ask the BJP what they have done for Hindus? They started a project to clean the Ganga, and allocated crores of rupees, but they could not even clean a pond. They only use Hinduism for politics.
We are not atheists ike the CPI(M). We do not indulge in politics over religion like the BJP. They allege that Mamata Banerjee indulges in Muslim appeasement. I want to tell them, Mamata Banerjee has worked for the development of both Furfura Sharif and Dakshineshwar. She has brought a tide of development to Gangasagar as well as Tarapith.
The Prime Minister said Durga Puja is under threat. He does not know Mamata Banerjee has started the Bisarjan Carnival at Red Road. My advice to the BJP is to first take care of the pandal and then think of Bengal. In 2018, the pandal broke. In 2019, the government will break.
Our leader has fixed our target from the July 21 rally stage. Her message was 42 out of 42 in 2019, BJP finish. This should be our motto. We did not concede ground to the CPI(M), neither will we concede ground to the BJP. Let us resolve to protect the unity, culture, harmony of Bengal with our lives. Let us rid Bengal of the dirt called BJP, in a democratic way.
Let them fight us politically. Those who think they can win in Bengal by communally polarising the people, I want to remind them that people of Bengal cannot be brought for money. This is our Bengal, our pride.
They say they will win 22 seats in Bengal. We have to ensure that they don’t even win in 22 booths. A secular government will be formed in India in the coming days. That government will be for the common people, the farmers. That government will work for the progress in every sphere.
The only clash in Bengal will be one between 10 crore people of Bengal versus the BJP, not Hindu-Muslim clash.
Today is the death anniversary of Mahasweta Devi. She had a deep connection to this district. My deepest respects to her.

Preserving trees is an essential duty: Mamata Banerjee at Vanmahotsav

Posted on July 27, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Trees are extremely important for preserving the fabric of the environment, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at a programme on Vanmahotsav at the State Assembly premises today. She stressed on the usefulness of trees, for the fabric of the environment was coterminous with the fabric of our society, both existing in their multitude of variety yet essentially in a state of harmony.

Salient points of her speech:

50 lakh saplings will be distributed by the State Forest Department for planting across Bengal.
The State Government is distributing saplings through the Sabujshree Scheme too, wherein a sapling is given to the mother of a child born in a Government facility. These are valuable trees, whose wood can be sold after the child attains 18 years of age to fund educational and other needs of the child.
Without greenery there will be no life, no joy and laughter, and consequently, no peace and prosperity. Trees and plants are a salve for the eyes, and by extension, the mind.
We never try to divide people, be it on the basis of religion or anything else. We believe humanity is one, people are one and the same everywhere.
We abhor any form of artificially-created division. Thought, religion, language, colour of skin – these are points of difference for sure, but we are ultimately tied by the blood which flows in us, which has the same colour for every person.
We, the people of our great country, have been taught about the essential unity of humanity through the words and works of people like Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Netaji, BR Ambedkar, Matangini Hazra and Pritilata Waddedar, Birsa Munda, Raghunath Murmu, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, APJ Abdul Kalam and many others.
Rabindra Tagore had expressed in our national anthem, ‘Punjab Sindhu, Gujarat, Maratha, Dravida, Utkala, Banga’. We hail from different places and regions, we hail from different castes and creeds, but we are essentially the same.
Unity in diversity is the fundamental thought behind our society.
In a similar way, there are so many types of trees. But one is as much essential as the other, they live in harmony with each other. Respect trees as much we respect each other.

Pratima Mondal makes an intervention on The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

I would like to request the hon minister that repatriation process should be taken care off, so that the girls who are getting trafficked, especially from Bangladesh or our neighbouring countries, can go to their homes as soon as possible. I was a chairperson in my district (South 24 Parganas) and I personally experienced that they are being detained year after year. So, please take care of the repatriation process.

Thank you, Madam.

Satabdi Roy speaks on The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I rise to support the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill 2018. To showcase its commitment to combat human trafficking, we request the Government of India to ensure the following:

The due law must safeguard the non-liability of the victims of trafficking, empowerment of HST units across the districts in India, which has the authority to rescue and investigation throughout the case cycle, filing the registration of FIR, the arrest, of evidence, investigation or prosecution. Protocols and funds, coordination in interstate cases of forced labour should be made available to support officials and NGOs. Part of interstate transfer, including for loading and food and survivors for they are dependent. Adequate police protection should also be ensured in this transfer. Acknowledgement in critical roles of NGOs and support and corroborate combating trafficking, including labour trafficking and bonded labour. Adequate funding for rescued and further reinforcement for the new law of trafficking. On May 31, the Walk Free Foundation released its 2016 Global Slavery index which claimed that there were 45.8 million modern slaves around the world out of which 18.3 million were in India. The proposed law removes little of India’s modern slavery. It is a photocopy of a western approach.

Madam, main Standing Committee ke vajah se 2 -4 jail mein visit kiya. Vahan pe bahut saare Bangladesh ke log mile. Jail mein chaay (6) saal tak ke bachche maa ke saath jail mein reh sakte hai. Uske baad who nahin reh sakte. Uske baad kyun nahin reh sakte? Us samay bahut sare maa mere paas aaye the jiske bacche kaha hain unko pata nahin. NGO ke pass hain? Kaun se NGO ke pass hain? Kuch nahin malum. Unke paas koi support hain nahin. Jail mein aap kabhi jayenge to depression mein aa jayenge. Saat saal, dus saal trial hi ho raha hain, jis ke kuch result ho hi nahin raha hain.
Mein aur ek baat batau, jo aap sab ko malum hain. It is a very big racket, yahaan pe NGOs, homes aur police bhi saath mein jure hote hain. Ek bachche ko le aane se Rs 700 milte hain, unke liye bhi yeh sab karte hain. Yeh adoption ke bare me bhi mein bol sakti hoon. Pata nahin jo rules and regulations hote hain is mein jo log crime korte hain woh to nikal jate hain dusre line se, jo log sach much adopt karna chahte hain, kyun pahunch nehi pate hain? Kyun ki, itna files, itna rules hain. Lekin bacche bare ho jaye to unka adoption ka koi matlab nahin hain. Kitne log tadapte hain bachche ke liye. Aur mujhe ek baat bataya jaye. Jo aajayenge rehabilitation board se, panch saal baad mein ghar aaye ya panch mahine baad mein bhi ghar aaye, ghar usko society ki wajah se accept nahin karti.

Mein yeh manti hoon, rules, law, kanoon, kuch bhi society ko badal nahin sakte, kuch change kar sakte. Nahin toh crime bhi nahin hote iske baare mein. Main yeh request karungi, after yeh new law ke saath, bhagwan kare, society change ho jaye, badal ho jaye jiske saath humlog is society mein un logon ko accept kare , jo sach much problem mein hain, yeh society change ke liye humlog appeal korte hain.

We support this Bill, thank you.

Ratna De Nag asks a Question on ODF villages/districts

Posted on July 26, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Thank you very much, Madam. It is pertinent to point out here that out of 23 districts in Bengal, 14 have been declared Open Defecation-Free districts and out of 38,000 villages, 33,525 villages have been declared Open Defecation-Free villages with the active initiative of our Chief Minister.

Through you, Madam, I would ask the Hon’ble Minister, has the Ministry tried to find out, since the programme came into being, the impact of the programme on the health of the people? Have the toilets been made disabled-friendly? If yes, the details thereof.

Trinamool calls for ousting BJP from power at Centre

Posted on July 21, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

From the stage of the July 21 mega-rally in Kolkata (Ekushe July Shahid Dibas), leader after senior leader of Trinamool Congress gave calls to take strong measures to unseat the BJP from power.

Given below are the gists of what the senior leaders spoke.

Abhishek Banerjee

I salute and welcome those who have come here today. I am here today to take directions from our Chairperson, Mamata Banerjee. People have come to Dharmatala from various places far and wide. We congregate here every year. July 21 is not a mere date; neither is it just a date for deciding on action. July 21 is an emotion, a sign of pride, the identity of Trinamool. Those who are not aware of July 21 have no right to work for Trinamool.

Last year during the July 21 rally, we had taken a pledge to win the zilla parishad seats during the panchayat elections, and we had kept our promise by winning the 20 zilla parishads.

Today we have to take another pledge – to decimate the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. If so needed we are ready to give our lives but we’ll never tolerate insult. Trinamool cannot be scared using the CBI and ED. If people are hurt, we’ll never keep quite.

The Prime Minister had come to Bengal sometime back. He supposed addressed a Krishi Kalyan rally but even with a microscope one wouldn’t have been able to discern a single farmer at the meeting.

A pandal broke down at their rally of a mere ten to twelve thousand people. They can’t even take proper care of such a small rally, how will they take care of Bengal? A pandal broke down in 2018, in 2019, their Government will break into pieces.

Partha Chatterjee

There are no parallels to the way Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stood up against every form of injustice – from snatching away people’s precious savings to rising prices. Today we will hear from her the future course of Trinamool Congress.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay

The country’s politics is going through a torrid phase. If there is any Chief Minister at present capable of ruling keeping communal harmony and unity in place, that person is Mamata Banerjee. This has been endorsed by other Chief Minister of the country.

Subrata Bakshi

This rally is being watched not only by people in Bengal but all across the country. It would send the message everywhere that there is no other party in India so organised as Trinamool Congress.

Suvendu Adhikari

Like every year this year too we are paying our respects to the martyrs and their families. All around is a sea of heads. Whatever direction Mamata Banerjee will give, we will follow. During the elections many media outlets and Opposition parties had said a lot of negative things about Trinamool Congress, but the soil of Bengal is the secure base of Trinamool Congress. Trinamool cannot be stopped by threats. Congress is now with CPI(M) and another party is just interested in killing and destroying. The members of these parties are the worst kind of people. We are vowing to defeat them 42-0 at the next Lok Sabha elections. Remove BJP and save the country.

Subrata Mukherjee

We had removed corruption from Bengal, now another party has come to corrupt the State. We will defend Bengal with our last drop of blood. Today the country is directionless. The Prime Minister has not delivered on any of his promises. The poor are spending sleepless nights. After the setting of the sun of CPI(M), it is the turn of the BJP now. A new sun will rise over the country.

Chandrima Bhatrtacharya

Our leader Mamata Banerjee has shown how to give respect to women. We are simply her soldiers. The belief of the people on Mamata Banerjee has increased manifold, so we could win many more seats in 2016 than in 2011. A party which has so many women as leaders cannot be defeated. Today is a day for making a new pledge – we will become a stronger party in the future, this is our pledge.

Bengal CM flays Centre for not fulfilling promise of taking over 7 tea gardens

Posted on July 12, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today chaired a meeting regarding the condition of tea gardens in north Bengal. The meeting was held at Uttarkanya.

At the end of the meeting, she announced that the government has given clearance to the wage-hike of workers and formed a committee to find a solution to the problems facing tea industry.

She also attacked the Centre for failing to fulfill its promise of taking over 7 tea gardens. The promise was made by a Union Minister during 2016 Assembly election campaign.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s press meet:

We have allocated more than 1000 crore for the welfare of tea garden workers since 2011.
We need a permanent solution to the problem of tea gardens.
Some trade unions are calling bandhs for their vested political interests
Centre had promised to take over 7 tea gardens before 2016 elections. It was a lie for garnering votes. The tea garden owner went to court, got the tea garden declared ‘abandoned’ and workers are suffering. Centre must withdraw the notification.
Some owners open their ‘abandoned’ tea gardens for some days, and close it down again.
We have formed an expert committee under the leadership of our Chief Secretary. They will submit a report within 3 months.
There are 2.72 lakh workers in tea gardens and 8 lakh non-workers who leave in tea gardens.
We give 35 kg rice at Rs 2 per kg, electricity, water supply to tea gardens.
We have increased wages of tea garden workers after coming to power. The cash component has now become Rs 159. We have given interim relief of Rs 17.50.
Lease of abandoned tea gardens which are closed, will be cancelled and they will be auctioned.
We will take action against organisations which don’t pay PF and gratuity.
We will focus on ICDS through community development programmes.
Non-workers in tea gardens will be given skill development training. They will be given training in poultry farming, rearing hens, ducks etc.
Tea tourism is also under consideration.
Peace prevails in the Hills. People are happy and in peace. We will observe the birth anniversary of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya in the Hills tomorrow.

New initiatives taken by the Cooperation Department in Bengal

Posted on July 6, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government’s Cooperation Department has taken several initiatives to improve the reach of cooperative societies across the State by converting cooperative societies into banks, and introducing computerisation and modern banking services. Regular audits of cooperative societies are being conducted and special initiatives are being taken for increasing memberships of cooperative societies.

New initiatives

Overhauling rural cooperative system: The department has set a target of overhauling the entire rural cooperative system and mobilising deposits of about Rs 1 lakh crore in the next two to three years. As a result, cooperative banks and primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) will be able to contribute more effectively towards various Government schemes and extend loans to SHGs. They should be able to extend at least 50 per cent of the almost Rs 40,000 crore loan required annually for crop production and marketing.

Banking for the unbanked: The department has set a target of opening at least 75 cooperative bank branches in unbanked gram panchayats (GP) by the end of financial year 2018-19.

Modern banking: Modern banking facilities, viz., ATM, RTGS, NEFT, etc. are being provided at existing cooperative banks. Till now, 350 branches of West Bengal State Cooperative Bank (WBSCB) and Central Cooperative Bank (CCB) have already been CBS-enabled and 80 ATMs are in operation. Besides, mobile ATM services have also been introduced.

Assistance to PACS: An assistance of Rs 34.75 crore has been given for the computerisation of 2,780 primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS).

New cold storage units: Construction of six cold storage units has been taken up, having a total capacity of 49,000 MT, which are likely to be completed during the current year.

Regular audit: Initiatives have been taken to conduct timely and regular audit of cooperative societies.

Increasing membership: Special initiatives have been taken to enhance the memberships of cooperative societies.

Samabay Bhavans: The State Government has decided to establish Samabay Bhavans in all the districts to accommodate all offices related to the Cooperation Department under one roof. So far, bhavans have been completed in Purba Bardhaman (Bardhaman), Paschim Bardhaman (Asansol), Bankura, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur. Construction is going on in Malda.

Important schemes being implemented in the cooperative sector by Bengal Govt

Posted on July 6, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Several important schemes are being implemented by the State Cooperation Department to improve the cooperative sector. The Trinamool Congress Government has been very proactive in empowering the rural population, as well as the urban population to some extent, by energising the cooperative sector.

Special Bad Debt Reserve for CCBs and PACS (Risk Fund): Under this scheme, an outright grant to primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS) and central cooperative banks (CCB), at 4 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively, of the additional amount of loans issued over and above last year’s amounts, would be given to encourage agricultural credit to the weaker sections of society. Rs 1,300 lakh has been allocated for the Special Bad Debt Reserve for CCBs (Risk Fund) and Rs 2,600 lakh has been allocated for the Special Bad Debt Reserve for PACSs (Risk Fund).

Strengthening of central cooperative banks (CCB): Rs 500 lakh has been allocated for assisting the weak central cooperative banks for 2018-19, to strengthen the capital base and raise the net worth, as these banks play a pivotal role in spreading the Cooperative Movement at the district-level.

Strengthening of primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS): Rs 1,000 lakh has been allocated for assisting the weak primary agricultural cooperative societies in hiring godowns, purchasing furniture, giving incentives to staff, computerising offices and training SHGs, for a period of three years.

Investment in shares – National Rural Credit (Long Term Operations) Fund: Rs 500 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 towards financial assistance in the form of State share to West Bengal State Cooperative Bank (WBSCB), Central Cooperative Banks (CCB), West Bengal State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (WBSCARD) and Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (PCARDB), to strengthen their capital base.

Assistance for universal membership: Rs 50 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for encouraging the weaker sections of society to be brought within the cooperative fold by allowing an assistance of Rs 250 per head to purchase shares of PACSs.

Training of self-help groups (SHG): Rs 965 crore has been allocated for 2018-19 for sensitisation and awareness training programmes for the members of more than 2 lakh SHGs, and for skill development training for the members of the SHGs.

Supply of long-term credit: Rs 500 crore has been allocated for 2018-19 for supplying long-term credit to the weaker sections of society by the agricultural and rural development banks.

Assistance for offsetting imbalance in PCARDBs: Rs 4,000 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for reviving WBSCARD and the PCARDBs under the long-term cooperative credit sector.

Urban credit cooperative sector: For 2018-19, for the revival and development of the urban cooperative banks (URB), urban credit cooperative societies (UCCS) and mahila cooperative societies (MCS), Rs 100 lakh, Rs 300 lakh and Rs 300 lakh, respectively has been allocated.

Establishment of cold storages: Rs 200 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for the repairing, renovation and expansion of cold storages under the various cooperatives.

Establishment of storage godowns: Rs 50 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19, to be given to primary agricultural credit societies and primary agricultural marketing societies for the construction of godowns and the repairing and renovation of existing ones.

Assistance to agricultural marketing societies: Rs 1,000 lakh and Rs 50 lakh have been allocated to West Bengal State Cooperative Marketing Federation and the primary agricultural marketing societies, respectively, to supply agricultural inputs like fertilizers, seeds, etc. and market agricultural produce including procurement of paddy at the State Government-mandated minimum support price (MSP).

Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF): Rs 6,000 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 under RIDF for the construction of large godowns, cold storages, rice mills, seed farms, etc.

Development of cooperative societies: For 2018-19, Rs 200 lakh has been allocated for Apex Consumers’ Cooperative Society, Rs 300 lakh for urban consumers’ cooperative societies and another Rs 200 lakh for rural consumers’ cooperative societies.

Training: Rs 275 lakh has been allotted for 2018-19 for the construction of training centres and for conducting training programmes by West Bengal State Cooperative Union.

Samabay Bhavans: Samabay Bhavans have been built in the districts of Purba Bardhaman (Bardhaman), Paschim Bardhaman (Asansol), Bankura, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur. Construction is going on in Malda. Rs 200 crore has been allotted for constructions in a few more districts.

Ad hoc Grant to employees of cooperative societies: Rs 1,500 crore has been allocated for 2018-19 under the head of Ad hoc Grant for enhancing the emoluments of the employees of the various cooperative societies.

West Bengal Cooperative Service Commission: Rs 74 lakh has been allocated for 2018-19 for West Bengal Cooperative Service Commission, which selects and recommends the appointments of personnel in cooperative societies across the state, in line with the provisions of the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act, 2006.

Achievements of the Cooperation Department

Posted on July 6, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The cooperative sector is a major success story in Bengal. As per the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the State Cooperation Department, by empowering cooperatives societies, upgrading numerous societies to banks to overcome the problem of lack of banks in far-flung areas, and through loans from cooperative banks, creating lakhs of self-help groups (SHG), has enabled the rural populace of Bengal to enjoy an economic revival like never before.

In total, there are more than 28,000 cooperative societies having a membership of more than 78 lakh, and lakhs of self-help groups involving more than 18 lakh people.

Achievements of the Cooperation Department

Huge increase in loan dispersals: Over the last seven financial years, that is, 2010-11 to 2017-18, crop loan disbursed has increased by 143.88 per cent (from Rs 1,388 crore to Rs 3,385 crore) and loan given to SHGs has increased by 374.42 per cent (Rs 129 crore to Rs 612 crore).

Huge increase in paddy procurement: Over the last seven financial years, that is, 2010-11 to 2017-18, quantity of paddy procured by BENFED and CONFED has increased by 157.87 per cent (1.97 lakh MT to 5.08 lakh MT), whose corresponding value increased by 124.5 per cent (Rs 351 crore to Rs 788 crore).

BENFED is the acronym for West Bengal State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd. While CONFED is the acronym for West Bengal State Consumers Cooperative Federation Ltd.

Crop loans: During financial year (FY) 2016-17, more than 50 per cent of crop loans in Bengal, or Rs 3,018 crore, was extended by cooperative banks only. Over the last seven years, crop loans to the tune of Rs 18,162 crore have been disbursed.

Kisan Credit Cards: During the last seven years, 8,97,664 Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) have been issued. ATM-enabled RuPay Kisan Cards has been introduced and already around 10 lakh cards have been distributed amongst the farmer-members.

Membership drives: A special initiative was taken to enhance membership of cooperative societies, as a result of which 1,51,602 new members have been enrolled by primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS).

Elections for cooperative societies: Cooperative Election Commission was set up for holding free and fair elections for management of cooperative societies. It started functioning from April 16, 2012, since when, elections to 8,262 societies have been held.

Financing: During the 2017-18 fiscal, West Bengal State Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development (WBSCARD) Bank received the highest ever refinance of Rs 212 crore from NABARD.

Crop loans: There are 23,70,281 Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holders and crop loans worth Rs 2,005.33 crore have been disbursed to 8,41,424 farmer-members.

Self-Help Groups (SHG): FY 2017-18 saw the creation of 1,721 SHGs and the credit-linking of 18,029 SHGs. Loans worth Rs 612.25 crore have been extended to SHGs.

Kharif marketing season (KMF): During KMS 2016-17, 28 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of the 39 LMT of paddy procured was through cooperative societies.

Seed multiplication units: As part of the cooperative sector, 57 seed multiplication units have been set up; another three, involving Rs 1.14 crore, are to be completed soon.

Godowns: Four storage godowns, having a total capacity of 5,462 MT, have been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.73 crore.

Cold storages: Construction of six cold storages, having a total capacity of 49,000 MT, is going on at a cost of Rs 67.18 crore.

Samabay Bhavan: The purpose of Samabay Bhavans is to bring all the district offices and institutions of the cooperative sector under one roof to ensure smooth and hassle-free service. So far, Bhavans have been completed in Purba Bardhaman (Bardhaman), Paschim Bardhaman (Asansol), Bankura, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur. Construction is going on in Malda.

Sufala outlets: Sufala outlets are being opened across more and more districts to provide quality vegetables and grocery items to the masses at fair prices. For selling at these State Government-owned outlets, the government buys directly from the farmers thus helping them get remunerative prices. So far, 30 Sufala outlets have been opened across six districts and 70 Mobile Sufala outlets have been opened across seven districts.

Fairs and conventions: Samabay Mela 2017 was organised from April 11 to 13, 2017 at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata to showcase the achievements and products prepared by the cooperative societies and self-help groups. At the function, Samabay Ratna, Samabay Bhushan and Samabay Shri awards were bestowed on cooperatives. On January 25, 2018, the first-ever convention on cooperatives in Bengal since independence, titled ‘Cooperatives in Socio-Economic Development’, was held at Netaji Indoor Stadium. It was inaugurated by the Chief Minister.

Government to citizen services: An initiative has been taken by the Cooperation Department to incorporate the services offered in terms of the West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act and the rules therein into the e-District Project under the National e-Governance Plan through which government-to-citizen services will be provided online. The objective is to ensure prompt and effective delivery of services in a transparent manner. A total of 89 services have been identified for the purpose, of which six services have already gone live, nine more services are ready to be deployed live and development work of the remaining services are under process.

Awards: Nadia District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd., Krishnanagar has received the award for best performance in the country during FY 2017-18 for outstanding performance in SHG development.