Tag: West Bengal Chief Minister

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was present today at a public function at Bajkul in Purba Medinipur district. She inaugurated a number of projects and laid the foundation stones of many more. She told the residents of the newly-created district that the State Government is committed to the development of the district.

Salient points of her speech:

• I am extending my welcome to all of you to this public meeting
• We want, along with boys, girls too to rise up in society
• Medinipur is the birthplace of stalwarts like Vidyasagar, Matangini Hazra and Khudiram; this region carries a lot of historic legacy.
• I have never forgotten the infamous incidents that took place in Medinipur, Heria, Patashpur, Egra and Panskura. We have not forgotten how our party’s worker, Sujata was tortured and killed in Khejuri. I was detained in Chandipur, where people were waiting with acid bulbs. My car was blocked with bamboo poles in Kolaghat, and sweared at – I have been tortured in various ways.
• If anyone tries to scare me, I roar back. I love to protest. Once the governor (Gopal Gandhi) sent me a message through an intermediary that I would be killed, still I went to Kolaghat. IMy way was blocked all through the night. I was tried to be prevented with all their strength from reaching Nandigram, but I still went there. We couldn’t save many people. Many were killed and their bodies floated down the Haldi river. Many were never heard from again.
• We will never forget the incident of Netai, where seven people were shot dead one after the other, and then women were forced into slavery. In Chhoto Angaria and Benepukur, people were killed and their bodies buried inside walls. Many people still don’t know about these. But the people of Bangla will never forget these incidents.
• A six-month-old child was snatched from the father, a person’s hand was hacked off at Kandua in Amta, our party workers’ eyes were gouged out in Daspur because they had painted posters. They burned alive 19 Ananda Margis on Bijon Setu. In Jangalmahal, every year, 400 people used to be killed.
• We have rescued the people of Bangla from the hands of the harmads of CPI(M). These harmads have now shamelessly joined the BJP.
• Of which party is he a leader, the one who lead the murder spree in Nandigram? I don’t want to spell out the name. There is no place for harmads in the Trinamool Congress. When people used to be carried away by floods in villages in Kapaleswar and Keleghai, where were these leaders? They just know how to talk big.
• Now a university named after Mahatma Gandhi is coming up in Tamluk and a medical college has already come up. A lot of developments have happened in Digha – international convention centre, Biswa Bangla Park, roads, polytechnic college, ITI, multi-superspeciality hospital, food processing centre. A drinking water project is coming up at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore. A power plant has come up in Kolaghat.
• The Centre is denying the implementation of the Ghatal Master Plan for a long time. If the plan is implemented, flooding would largely be reduced.
• A 120-bed hospital has come up in Contai.
• When I was railway minister, I ensured completion of the Digha-Contai railway line in nine months. Today the people of Bajkul are going on that route regularly.
• I had planned a line till Nandigram, but the Centre us delaying. If we come to power at the Centre, we will ensure completion.
• About 20 Karmatirthas have come up, seven more are in the offing.
• Seven Kisan Mandis have come up, cold storages too. Fish cultivation in the village of Moyna has been accepted as a model for Bangla.
• We give free-of-cost chickens, ducks and goats to the poor. We want to set up big duck farms like chicken farms. Those interested please contact your respective BDPOs and gram panchayats.
• Kanyashree beneficiaries earlier used to get Rs 750 per year, now it is Rs 1,000. If they remain unmarried till the age of 18, they get an additional one-time grant of Rs 25,000.
• Under the K3 level, Kanyashree-enrolled girls, if pursuing postgraduation, get Rs 2,000 per months for arts streams and Rs 2,500 per month for science streams.
• Already 50 lakh girls have enrolled under Kanyashree. This is set to increase by many times.
• Under the Sikshashree Scheme, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students from classes V to VIII are getting scholarships; about 75 lakh get scholarships.
• 1.7 crore students from minority communities are getting scholarships.
• Kendu leaf-pickers have been brought under the Samajik Suraksha Scheme.
• For every child born, the mother is being given a sapling. This will grow up along with the child. When fully grown, the tree will be worth Rs 2 lakh. The tree can then be sold to help the child with the money.
• Under the Rupashree Scheme, those families with annual income of less than Rs 1.5 lakh will get a grant of Rs 25,000 for their daughters’ wedding.
• Under Samajik Suraksha Scheme, unorganised workers are provided a pension of Rs 1,500 when they cross 60, Rs 6,000 is given for their children’s studies and a one-time grant of Rs 2 lakh is given. If someone dies a natural death before crossing 60, the family gets Rs 50,000 and for an unnatural death, the family gets Rs 10 lakh. Folk artistes who are beneficiaries under Lok Prasar Parkalpa also come under this scheme.
• Under the Lok Prasar Prakalpa, a grant of Rs 1,000 per month is given. Then, their talents are used for advertising all government schemes.
• Under Mabhoi Scheme, journalists are provided medical insurance and pension after retirement.
• The retirement ages of contractual and casual workers, ICDS and ASHA workers, and civic volunteers have been increased to 60. They have also been included under the Swasthya Sathi medical insurance scheme.
• Earlier, the Centre used to give 90 per cent of the salary of ICDS workers, now it gives 30 per cent. As a result, the State Government has to spend Rs 1,000 more per person per month. The salary of ASHA workers has also been raised by Rs 1,000, of civic volunteers by Rs 5,000 (3,000 to 8,0000). The salary of para-teachers and contractual teachers has also been increased.
• The Pranimitras used to get Rs 400 per months under the Left Front Government, now they get Rs 1,500.
• The people of our State buy rice at the rate of Rs 2 per kg, which is availed by almost 8 crore people.
• Treatment id free in government hospitals. Under Swasthya Sathi, up to Rs 5 lakh is provided for treatment is private hospitals. Mid-day meals, and steel plates and glasses are given to children. Under the ICDS, mothers are given treatment for free.
• As soon a woman gets pregnant, she is allotted an additional Rs 6,000 for the next year.
• Maternity leave of a total of 731 days is given, and paternity leave of one month.
• If a poor person dies, Rs 2,000 is given to the family to conduct the last rites.
• 1 crore students have been given bicycles as part of the Swasthya Scheme.
• The people of Bangla are culture-minded, humanists, civilised.
• Our government has waived off tax and mutation fee on agricultural land.
• Be it flood or drought, I always stand by the people. We have helped 30 lakh people with a cumulative amount of Rs 1,200 crore.
• We have set up custom hiring centres for farmers to take on lease agricultural equipments.
• We are giving grants for farmers to cultivate potatoes.
• Rice growers’ MSP has been increased from Rs 1,550 per quintal to Rs 1,750.
• Earlier teachers didn’t get salaries on time, now they get on the 1st of every month.
• We have provided vocational training to six lakh students, which increase to 12 lakh in the next two years.
• We are recruiting teachers for providing education in different languages.
• One lakh civic volunteers are being recruited.
• Everyone was affected badly by demonetisation. Many people lost their jobs.
• Many workers were chased away from Gujarat. We don’t do any such thing.
• They are driving away Bengalis from Assam, Biharis from Gujarat. Names of 40 lakh voters have been deleted in Assam of whom 23 lakh are Bengalis.
• Where was the BJP then? Now they are suddenly showing faux feelings for Hindus. Did the BJP teach how to do Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Eid? The Hindu religion has existed for thousands of years. So have the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita, Bible, Quran, Granth Sahib existed for many, many years.
• The BJP is scaring people into submission by offering crores of rupees, and taking out Ravan Yatras all over the country. They are asking people about their religions, castes and gotras. Seems as if someone has given them the responsibility?
• They are calling Hanumans as Dalits, murdering minorities, chasing away Hindus, torturing Christians.
• A policeman who was the investigating officer of a case was murdered. We have sympathy for his family. People are being murdered through fake encounters.
• The BJP leaders are each a dacoit leader, ordering people what to do from their perch of power in Delhi. They do not about Hinduism, nor about Islam or Christianity. Neither are they aware of humanism. They promote hatred in the name of religion.
• Why did 12,000 farmers commit suicide in a BJP-ruled State? Why do they not respect people of all religions? Why do they kill people and instigate riots?
• If I am attacked I react. We had led a struggle for 34 years. We have led many movements.
• Let me tell those CPI(M) supporters who are joining the BJP, we will also defeat you politically. We not let harmads remain here. They are jealous of the fact that people are peacefully living here.
• I am instructing all panchayat officials to ensure that everyone who is eligible gets rice at Rs 2 per kg and the benefits under all schemes.
• We have built houses for 40 lakh poor people. We will build more in the coming days.
• We have to repay to the Centre a debt of Rs 48,000 crore every year, by borrowing from others. Despite this, we are able to provide rice at Rs 2 per kilo, almost free treatment in government hospitals, houses for the poor. Almost 90 per cent of the population are part of one scheme of the other.
• We want to continue with our good work. Many roads and bridges are being constructed in this district, because of which many more tourists will be able to come. We want to ensure that your children do not have to go out of here to find work by creating opportunities here. We are helping people in Mandarmani to set up homestays for tourists so that they can earn from their own homes.
• We are trying our best. A rice godown is being built 10km from Bajkul. Hence, as you can see, a lot of work is being done. Do good work, and work together, let there be all-round development of this district.
• Today, Kanyashrees of the State stop child marriages, protest against crimes, and do many other types of good work for society. Kanyashree clubs have been set up. I want them to be examples for the whole world because they will never bow their heads in fear, they will build society.
• I want to tell the Sabooj Sathi beneficiaries that Bangla is the first State where scholarships have been instituted for the economically backward. All people get opportunities irrespective of religion. You have to love all religions equally.
• A lot of industries are coming up in Bangla. A port is coming up in Tajpur, which will lead to further development of the district. Women have to progress more, they will have to have a greater role in building society. The society where women are backward can never progress.
• Religion is one’s own, festivals are for all. Everyone has to keep this in mind. Those who are spreading hatred in the name of religion know neither Islam nor any other religion. They are finishing off the whole country, looting banks, killing farmers. They want to destroy society through riots. They don’t want to create good people, just brutes. We tell people to be good citizens. We want everyone in our State to be happy. Rural Bangla is our lifeblood. Even those who stay in towns and cities love the village life. Many of us have a connection to some village. This is the world of Maa-Mati-Manush, which has taught us to live happily.
• I want to know from our Kanyashree girls – you will be world leaders, won’t you? You will have to become doctors; we have a shortage of doctors.
• We all have to hold our heads high. No work is bad. Rather, those who don’t work become lazy and full of evil ideas. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. If we work, it is but natural for us to fall ill too, but overall work keeps us in a healthy state.
• Stay well, keep your minds fresh. Jai Hind, Khuda Hafiz, Jai Johar.