International recognition for Utkarsha Bangla, Sabooj Sathi

“Utkarsh Bangla” and “Sabooj Sathi” projects have won the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) awards under the aegis of the United Nations.

Out of 1062 nominations in 18 categories, “Utkarsh Bangla” got the topmost award and emerged a winner in Capacity Building category.

“Sabooj Sathi” ranked in the first five as a champion project under ICT application:E-Government category.

Reacting to the development, Mamata Banerjee wrote on her Facebook page, “These projects are for our young generation – skill development training for increasing employment opportunities for 6 lakh youth every year under “Utkarsh Bangla” and environment-friendly bicycles to school going students in classes IX to XII under “Sabooj Sathi”. Nearly 1 Crore cycles are being distributed since the inception of the project.”

 

Bengal shines at UN: Didi receives first prize for public service

Today, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received the United Nations Public Service Award in the category of Reaching the Poorest and Most Vulnerable through Inclusive Services and Participation for the Kanyashree Prakalpa at a UN event in The Hague. Out of 552 projects from 63 countries selected, Kanyashree came first. The award was given in recognition of the West Bengal Government’s innovation and excellence in public services supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mamata Banerjee spoke on the occasion, before the award was handed out. Today happens to be Public Service Day, celebrated worldwide by the United Nations.

Mamata Banerjee spoke about the developmental projects that have brought about a new era for public service in Bengal. It is indeed a matter a pride that this has been recognised at the highest level – by the United Nations.

Here is the speech she gave on the occasion:

Thank you so much. I think public service is service for all; and public means people – government of the people, by the people, for the people. I come from West Bengal in India, home to 100 million people. But public service also means continuous monitoring, and providing regular service for the people.

I have attended more than 300 administrative review meetings where we meet all the public representatives including block-level officials. Because of the accountability, transparency and sustainable developmental work, we achieve 100 per cent of our goals.

You will be happy to know that out of our state’s 100 million people, we offer direct benefits to 90 per cent of them, making them very happy. We empower the girl child through the Kanyashree project. We help everyone, including the minorities and the other backward classes (OBCs), and at every stage of a person’s life – from a newborn to a senior citizen. When a baby is born, we give each one a plant. Student scholarships are given to 20 million people. We have given free bicycles, which is a green transportation, to about 7 million students. Senior citizens get pensions and other benefits. Rural people are guaranteed 100 days’ work; we thus ensure job opportunities for the poor. Free food grains are also given to the people. The poor are also happy because we give free healthcare, from kidney transplantation to heart transplantation to many other things.

Thus, we provide help throughout the life of a person. We feel we must help the downtrodden people, so we ensure that benefits reach the people at the grassroots. The benefits have reached so many people because we ensure continuous monitoring, and because of the administrative review meetings and the administrative calendar.

There must be commitment, dedication and determination. If you have a dream, you have to achieve it. What is needed is for the leader to lead the people. We lead the people. Thank you so much.

 

জগৎসভায় বাংলার জয়পতাকা

বিশ্বের দরবারে বাংলাকে তুলে ধরলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা ব্যানার্জি। রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জে জনপরিষেবা দিবস উপলক্ষে এক অনুষ্ঠানে মমতার স্বপ্নের প্রকল্প ‘‌কন্যাশ্রী’‌ প্রথম পুরস্কার পেল। বিশ্বের দরবারে ইতিহাস হয়ে থাকল মমতার কন্যাশ্রী। পুরস্কার পাওয়ার পর মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর প্রতিক্রিয়া, ‘‌আমি গর্বিত। এই পুরস্কার রাজ্য ও দেশকে উৎসর্গ করলাম। কন্যাশ্রীর জন্য রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জ আমাদের সম্মান দিয়েছে। আমরা তাদের প্রতি কৃতজ্ঞ।‌ রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জ তথ্য নিয়ে জেনেছে বাংলা কীভাবে বিভিন্ন জেলায় উন্নয়নমূলক কাজ করছে। এই পুরস্কার পাওয়ার পর প্রতিটি কন্যাশ্রীর গর্ব হবে।’‌

বিশ্বের ১১টি দেশ তাদের বিভিন্ন সমাজসেবামূলক কাজ নিয়ে অনুষ্ঠানে এসেছিল। তাদের মধ্যে প্রথম হয় মমতার বাংলা। রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জের নেদারল্যান্ডসের সদর দপ্তরে এদিন অনুষ্ঠান হয়।

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, ‘‌আমরা ক্ষমতায় এসে প্রথম মনে করেছি, সরকার হচ্ছে মানুষের। মানুষের কণ্ঠস্বরকে আমরা গুরুত্ব দিয়েছি। আজও দিচ্ছি। আমি মনে করি, মানুষ ছাড়া কিছুই হতে পারে না। তাদের অভাব–অভিযোগ শুনতে হবে। সেইমতো কাজ করতে হবে। তবেই একটা সরকার এগিয়ে যেতে পারে। মানুষের পরিষেবা যখন ঠিক পথে পৌঁছে দেওয়া যায়, তখনই মনে হয় একটা ভাল সরকার চলছে। সরকারের স্বচ্ছতা, গ্রহণযোগ্যতাই বড় ব্যাপার। সরকারে এসে জেলায় জেলায় প্রশাসনিক বৈঠক করেছি। পৌঁছে যাচ্ছি মানুষের কাছে। গরিবদের পাশে আমরা আছি, থাকব।’‌

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী এদিন কন্যাশ্রী, সবুজসাথী, সমব্যথী, খাদ্যশ্রী–সহ বিভিন্ন প্রকল্পের কথা তুলে ধরেন। তিনি বলেন, ‘‌আমরা গ্রামে গিয়ে স্কুলপড়ুয়াদের হাতে সাইকেল তুলে দিয়েছি। আরও সাইকেল দেওয়া হবে। যাতে তারা স্কুলে পড়তে আসতে পারে। আমরা সংখ্যালঘু সম্প্রদায়ের জন্য অনেক কাজ করেছি। তাদের কথা আমরা সবসময় ভাবি। তাদের জন্য আরও কাজ করছি।’‌

তিনি আরও বলেন, ‘‌আমি উন্নয়নের ওপর সবচেয়ে বেশি জোর দিয়েছি। বাংলায় একসঙ্গে আমরা কাজ করি। দারিদ্র‌্য দূর করতে আমরা প্রতিশ্রুতিবদ্ধ।’‌

ভারতের এই প্রথম একজন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আন্তর্জাতিক মঞ্চে এসে রাজ্যের কথা তুলে ধরলেন।

 

Key schemes of Bengal appreciated at UN

Kanyashree, Sabuj Sathi, Sabuj Shree, Khadya Sathi and several other flagship schemes of the Bengal Government were appreciated at the United Nations on Thursday as Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra delivered an address. These schemes have already brought in immense social change and development in the State and now many foreign nations showed their interest in them.

Representatives from countries like Britain, Kenya and Argentina were extremely excited and wonder-struck as they listened to Dr Mitra. From Kanyashree which has helped in empowerment of girls to Khadya Sathi that provides rice at Rs 2/kg to 8.5 crore people – every scheme was met with appreciation at the UN.

Principal Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development highlighted how Kanyashree scheme has brought change in the grassroots level, leading to a drop in number of child marriages and a reduction in the rate of dropout of girl students in schools.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is going to address the United Nations at The Hague today.

বাংলার সাফল্যের গল্প শুনল রাষ্ট্রসংঘ

বৃহস্পতিবার রাষ্ট্রসংঘের মঞ্চে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের ছ বছরের কার্যকলাপের সাফল্যের কথা তুলে ধরেন অর্থমন্ত্রী অমিত মিত্র। সরকারের উদ্যোগে কীভাবে বিনামূল্যে সকলের কাছে স্বাস্থ্য পরিষেবা পৌঁছে দেওয়া গিয়েছে, ন্যায্যমূল্যের ওষুধের দোকানের মাধ্যমে কম দামে ওষুধ কিনতে পারছেন সাধারণ মানুষ—এসবই মঞ্চে তুলে ধরেন অর্থমন্ত্রী।

রাজ্যের প্রান্তিক এলাকার মানুষ বা পিছিয়ে পড়া জনগণ যাতে অনাহারে না থাকেন, সেজন্য ২ টাকা কিলো দরে তাদের চাল দেওয়ার কর্মসূচির কথা জানান তিনি। একইসঙ্গে তুলে ধরেন ক্ষুদ্র উদ্যোগপতিদের ব্যাংক ঋণ পেতে সহযোগিতা করার কথা, কৃষকদের কিষাণ ক্রেডিট কার্ড দেওয়ার কথা, লাল ফিতের ফাঁস আলগা করে সরকারি কর্মসূচিতে স্বচ্ছতা আনার কথা।

এইসব প্রকল্প, কর্মসূচির মাধ্যমে গরিবি দূর করতে রাজ্য সরকার কীভাবে এগিয়ে চলেছে, অর্থমন্ত্রীর প্রতিটি বয়ানে ছিল তার খতিয়ান। গরিবি দূর করার পাশাপাশি যার সঙ্গে জড়িত স্বাস্থ্যও। তাকে সমর্থন করে ভারতীয় সম্প্রদায়ের অনুষ্ঠানে মমতা বলেন, ‘গরিবরা যাতে বঞ্চিত না হন, সেদিকে রাজ্য সরকার সজাগ দৃষ্টি রাখছে। কারণ আবেগ না থাকলে বিবেকের জন্ম হয় না।’

নারী ও শিশু কল্যাণ দপ্তরের সচিব এদিন কন্যাশ্রী প্রকল্পের সাফল্যের কথাও জানান। এই প্রকল্প চালু হওয়ায় বাংলায় বাল্যবিবাহ, স্কুল থেকে ড্রপ আউটের বিষয় অনেক কমে গেছে। মেয়েদের উচ্চ শিক্ষার পথ আরও প্রশস্ত হয়েছে।

আজ রাষ্ট্রসংঘের মঞ্চে বক্তব্য রাখবেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

 

Bengal CM leaves for The Netherlands today to address UN meet in The Hague

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will address the Public Service Day of United Nations on June 22 at The Hague in The Netherlands.

She is the first Chief Minister from India to address a gathering on the occasion. She is scheduled to leave for Netherlands on Monday morning. “The Future is Now: Accelerating Public Service Innovation for Agenda 2030” is the theme of the 2017 UN Public Service Forum and the Chief Minister will be speaking on this subject.

After Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of Bengal, the state government, under her leadership, had undertaken several projects that benefitted the masses at a large scale and ensured an overall development of the state. The Bengal Chief Minister had introduced several pathbreaking schemes including Kanyashree, Sabuj Sathi, Yuvashree, Aloshree and Sasthya Sathi among others for the benefit of the people in general.

Around 500 dignitaries from different countries will be present in the programme when the Chief Minister addresses it. Dr Amit Mitra, the state Commerce and Industry minister, will be accompanying her.

 

আজ নেদারল্যান্ডস যাচ্ছেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

আগামী ২২ জুন রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জের আমন্ত্রণে নেদারল্যান্ডসের হেগে বক্তব্য রাখবেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

সম্প্রতি রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জের এই সম্মান বাংলার কাছে অন্যতম। দেশের অন্য কোনও মুখ্যমন্ত্রী যা আগে পাননি। আজ সকালে তিনি রওনা হন। আগামী ২২ ও ২৩ জুন ওয়ার্ল্ড অডিটোরিয়ামে রাষ্ট্রসঙ্ঘে ‘পাবলিক সার্ভিস ডে, ২০১৭’ অনুষ্ঠানটি হবে। অনুষ্ঠানটির ফোকাল থিম ‘দ্য ফিউচার ইজ নাও’।

২০১১ সালে ক্ষমতায় আসার পর কন্যাশ্রীর মতো প্রকল্প চালু করেছেন তিনি। এরই মধ্যে ইউনেস্কো থেকে কন্যাশ্রীকে স্বীকৃতিও দেওয়া হয়েছে। পাশাপাশি মমতা সবুজসাথী, সবুজশ্রী, শিক্ষাশ্রী, যুবশ্রী প্রকল্প চালু করেছেন।

গোটা পৃথিবী থেকে প্রায় ৫০০ গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ব্যাক্তি এই অনুষ্ঠানে যোগ দেবেন। আলোচনার বিষয়বস্তু হল নাগরিকদের কীভাবে সরকার সুবিধা প্রদান করে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে যাচ্ছেন অর্থমন্ত্রী অমিত মিত্র।

 

Bengal Govt seeks support from World Bank to provide vocational training for Kanyashrees

Rejuvenated by the success of the Kanyashree Prakalpa, on being shortlisted among the best projects in public administration by the United Nations (2014-15), the West Bengal Government is taking a step forward to empower girls beyond the ambit of formal education.T he scheme envisages providing basic education through open schooling, skill development and livelihood support to school drop outs.

The Government is seeking technical and fund support from World Bank for introducing what it calls Kanyashree Plus from 2016-17. Women and Child development and Social Welfare department officials have already had discussions with the World Bank authorities. The five-year scheme ending in 2019-20 aims at including another 1.3 million girls in the list of beneficiaries, over and above the existing 2.5 million girls covered under the existing Kanyashree project.

While the existing project offers annual scholarship to unmarried school girls between Class VIII and Class XII followed by a one-time grant of Rs 18,000 soon after they attain 18 years, the Kanyashree Plus scheme eyes on those who are not enrolled in schools. The purpose is to include them in the education system through open schooling and vocational training, deliver life skills and also facilitate economic empowerment.

The state government also wants to introduce merit-based scholarship for Kanyashree beneficiaries opting for higher education. It also proposes tie-ups with industrial training institutes to offer vocational courses to school pass outs.

The government wants the World Bank fund support to bear the additional financial liability apart from the budgetary allocations for the existing Kanyasharee project.

The women and child development and social welfare department is looking up to the Bank for leveraging resources in terms of training and entering into contracts with nationally acclaimed placement agencies for cementing the future of the girls.

The state government wants the Kanyashree Plus scheme to improve the status of women in Bengal.

After checking the number of school dropouts among girls and restricting child marriage through Kanyashree prakalpo, now it is the time to equip the girls for life. Hence Kanyashree Plus prakalpo will be soon announced.

Through the project the state government will try to ensure onward study of the girls after they attain 18 years of age. They will be imparted skill development courses, will undergo counseling and will be given placement opportunities. At the moment there is no plan to offer scholarships. The financial details are being worked out.

Abhishek Banerjee’s speech at United Nations General Assembly

Statement by Mr. Abhishek Banerjee, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, at the Thematic Debate on Other Weapons of Mass Destruction at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on October 22, 2015:

Mr. Chairman,

India associates itself with the statement delivered by Indonesia on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and that delivered by Russia on behalf of BRICS.

India attaches high importance to the two Conventions on Chemical and Biological Weapons as examples of non-discriminatory treaties in the field of disarmament for the total elimination of a specific type of weapons of mass destruction. The success of these Conventions can be a model for the future elimination of the other type of weapons of mass destruction- nuclear weapons.

As disarmament is a primary goal of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the remaining possessor States should fulfil their obligations within the shortest possible time. India completed the destruction of its chemical weapon stockpiles in 2009 within the stipulated time frame under the CWC. The provisions of the Convention should be implemented in a manner that does not hinder legitimate activities, especially in countries like India with a large and growing chemical industry. Universality is also fundamental to the success of the Convention.

The use of chemical weapons anywhere and by anyone must be condemned and the international norm against the use of chemical weapons must not be breached. India contributed to international efforts under the UN and the OPCW for the destruction of Syria’s declared chemical weapon stockpiles. The international community should continue to be vigilant on non-state actors and terrorist groups seeking or using chemical weapons.

Mr. Chairman,

India remains committed to improving the effectiveness of the BWC and strengthening its implementation and its universalization. India shares the widespread interest amongst States Parties to strengthen the effectiveness and improve the implementation of the Convention through the negotiation and conclusion of a Protocol for that purpose. We believe this is necessary in view of the new challenges to international peace and security emanating from proliferation trends, including the threat posed by terrorists or other non-state actors seeking access to biological agents or toxins for terrorist purposes.

We support a robust consultation process among all States Parties leading to the Eighth Review Conference next year, so as to contribute to its success through preparations on substantive and procedural issues. India is making substantive contributions in this regard. We have submitted a Joint Working Paper with France on measures to strengthen Assistance under Article VII of the Convention. We have tabled a Joint Working Paper with the United States on strengthening the implementation of Article III of the Convention. These demonstrate India’s contribution of concrete proposals on key aspects of the Convention and our willingness to work with partners to build broad based understandings and agreement that would benefit all State Parties to the Convention.

Mr. Chairman,

India is committed to maintaining the highest international standards with reference to control of nuclear, chemical, biological and toxin weapons and their means of delivery. In this regard, India has made considerable progress in its engagement with the relevant multilateral export control regimes with a view to seeking full membership. India has strong and law-based national export controls consistent with the highest international standards. India has filed reports to UNSCR 1540 and has provided the latest update this year.

A world without weapons of mass destruction would be a world without fear of instant annihilation. In conclusion I would like to quote Rabindranath Tagore – great son of India and a great poet of Bengal:

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake

Thank you.

Abhishek Banerjee to represent Trinamool at UN

Trinamool Congress’ youngest MP Abhishek Banerjee is likely to be part of a delegation of Indian parliamentarians visiting the United Nations’ New York headquarters from October 19-30.

It is significant because soon after assuming power, the current Prime Minister had scrapped this practice, which has been a norm since Jawaharlal Nehru’s times. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had registered her protest forcing the Centre to rethink its decision.

Abhishek was named by Sudip Bandyopadhyay , Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha.

“We nominated Abhishek because he is the youngest MP in the party . This delegation provides a rare insight into the workings of United Nations general assembly . It will help him,” he said.

Party MPs Derek O’ Brien, Nadimul Haque and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar have been part of similar delegations. Abhishek Banerjee, National President of All India Trinamool Youth Congress, is the second youngest MP in Lok Sabha.