State Govt takes up anti-trafficking measures

The Women and Child Development and Social Welfare and the Labour Department have come together to check incidents of child trafficking in the State. A State-level action plan has been chalked out to stop and investigate incidents of trafficking.

While placing her department’s Budget for financial year 2019-20, the Women and Child Development said that steps are being taken to identify the placement agencies that are allegedly involved in trafficking.

The Labour Department will conduct probes to ascertain if the agencies involved in trafficking have any registration from it.

During her speech, the minister also said that the budgetary allocation for her department has gone up by 6.6 per cent.

Source: Millennium Post

 

Second Maa, Mati, Manush Govt completes one year

On May 27, 2016, after a historic mandate by the people of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee took oath as the Chief Minister of the State for the second term.

Here are a few of the achievements of the Trinamool Government in the first year of the second term:

 

Administration and Finance and e-Governance

The West Bengal Assembly August 29 passed a resolution to change the name of the State to Bangla in Bengali, Bangal in Hindi and Bengal in English.

On August 31, 2016, the Supreme Court of India set aside the land acquisition by West Bengal Government in 2006 to facilitate Tata Motors to set up its Nano plant. On Nomber 8, physical possession of 846 acres of land were given to farmers as par the Supreme court order,

For better administration, the Government created the Kalimpong district. Later Bardhaman has been divided to form Paschim and Purba Bardhaman and Jhargram district has been carved out of Paschim Medinipur. Mirik has been created as a separate subdivision in Darjeeling district

The Department of Information Technology & Electronics, Govt. of Bengal has launched Digital Bangla Outreach Campaign. The objective of this campaign is to create awareness about Digital Bangla program, Core Infrastructure, various e-services of Govt. of West Bengal and their major initiatives through a Van based mobile display or exhibition unit with Audio Visual, IEC materials which will travel across the entire State of West Bengal.

The State Urban Development Department has set up Bakreswar Development Authority (BKDA) for comprehensive development of the area. The jurisdiction of the authority covers 42 moujas, spread over 58 square kilometres across Dubrajpur block (and including Dubrajpur municipality) in Birbhum district.

To successfully confront cyber threats, the Government has decided to set up a centre of excellence in cyber security. The State Cabinet has already given its approval.

In terms of small savings, after four years, the State of West Bengal has left Uttar Pradesh behind to become number one in the country. As per the latest data from the Ministry of Finance, after remaining second behind Uttar Pradesh for four consecutive financial years from 2011-12, in 2015-16, West Bengal toppled Uttar Pradesh to occupy the top position, with the total small savings amounting to Rs 8,362.78 crore. This amount is almost Rs 2,500 crore more than that of the second-placed Uttar Pradesh.

The West Bengal Government is deciding to set up a Start-Up Incubation Centre to support the educated youth to start its own businesses. Powered by the State Information & Technology Department and WEBEL, the centre will come up a WEBEL premises in Saltlake Sector V.

In a new initiative aimed to bring more industrial investment in West Bengal, an Industrial Investment Promotion Board (IIPB), which will be an umbrella organization of all industry-related corporations and other bodies of the state Government, has been formed.

The West Bengal Information Technology (IT) Department is constructing Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) in Falta and Naihati, at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore. These would lead to the generation of around 37,000 jobs, and also give a boost to the electronics sector of the State.

The Bengal Government decided upon setting up three more ‘police districts’ after Jhargram.  All the new police districts will be set up in South 24 Parganas, in Kakdwip, Diamond Harbour and Baruipur.

 

Health and Women and Child

On March 3, the Bengal Government ushered in sweeping reforms in healthcare system in the State with the new West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2017. The bill aims to regulate the private hospitals and bring in transparency in the manner in which they operate. Later, an 11-member West Bengal Health Regulatory Commission that will arbitrate complaints of medical negligence filed under The West Bengal Clinical Establishment (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Act, was set up.

The Bengal Government on October announced setting up of five new medical colleges and seven nursing institutes. At present, Bengal has 16 medical colleges, including 12 Government-run, three private-run and one central-run institute. With this additional five medical colleges the number will reach 21 and thus fulfilling the MCI criterion.

To provide the better health care facilities in the remote villages of the State, the Government has set up a waiting hut for pregnant women.

The country’s first state government-owned stem cell preservation centre started its formal functioning at the School of Tropical Medicine in Kolkata.

 

Industry and MSME

Speaking at the Plenary Session of the Day 2 of Bengal Global Business Summit, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the Summit has received an investment proposal to the tune of Rs 2 lakh 35,200 crore (US$ 36 billion).

Tantuja, a West Bengal Government undertaking that sells handloom and handicraft products, has won a national award from the Central Government. The award of Rs 1.5 lakh was given in Varanasi on the occasion of National Handloom Day on August 7, 2016.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left for an eight-day tour of Italy and Germany on September 2. This was her first foreign trip after coming to power for the second time. She stayed in Italy from September 2 to 5 and attended the canonisation ceremony of Mother Teresa at Vatican City. From Italy, she flew to Munich to meet some German industrialists leading major manufacturing businesses. The Chief Minister was being accompanied by a 12-member of official delegation and 29 industrialists.

The state government allocated a fund of Rs 300 crore to provide financial assistance to those who have lost their jobs due to demonetisation in other states and have come back home. The scheme to provide financial assistance has been named “Samarthan”.

 

Agriculture and Irrigation

West Bengal was selected for the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project Award 2015. This was the first time when the state would be received the award.

In a unique step to help people buy fresh vegetables without visiting the market, the state Agricultural Marketing department has introduced home delivery of green vegetables through its Sufal Bangla project.

In a bid to spread awareness among farmers in every district about the various welfare schemes and projects taken up by the state government, the Agriculture department has come up with the unique idea of introducing mobile vans in the districts to carry out a campaign in the rural areas. Experts travelling in a mobile van will impart knowledge and special training to the farmers to help increase their production.

 

Transport

An integrated board for Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) and West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) has been constituted to ensure better transport facility to commuters by reducing the loss incurred by the corporations.

‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ initiative was launched on August 17. The programme was observed in all 341 blocks, 117 municipalities, 6 municipal corporations, 144 wards of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, 19 district headquarters and GTA area to enhance awareness about traffic rules.

Bengal Government launched ‘e-Vahan’ service for online payment of taxes and registration of vehicles for the Kolkata Metropolitan Area (KMA) on February.

Pathadisha’ – an app was launched through which one can track bus from home and plan the journey accordingly.

Bengal government has introduced the Jaladhara scheme to provide financial assistance to convert semi-mechanised boats to mechanised ones to avert accidents. At the same time, standard operational procedure (SOP) would be followed to improve the safety of jetties across the state.

 

Panchayat and Rural Development, Labour and SHGs

The state government has introduced Muktidhara, a project to make rural unemployed youth self-reliant. The pilot project has earned remarkable success. Under the scheme every gram panchayat will have five groups each having 10 members. They will get bank loan at the rate of 2% while the state government will provide another 9 per cent. The scheme will provide support to the Self Help Groups by creating infrastructure.

Credit linkage of Women Self-Help Groups (SHG) with banks in West Bengal has been doubled in the 2015-16.

The daily wage of workers engaged in 100-days work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme has been increased to Rs 180 from Rs 176.

The Bengal Government introduced Social Security Yojana by converging five separate beneficiary schemes for workers in the unorganised sectors and for self-employed people. Around 5 crore people will benefit from the Yojana, with around 1 crore getting direct benefits.

 

Education, Women and Child development

The number of girls registered under Kanyashree has crossed 40 lakhs. In a bid to help girl students obtain benefits under the Kanyashree scheme within the shortest possible time after submitting their application, the state government introduced internet-based platforms on the third Kanyashree Divas on August 16.

Sukanyashree, a project to make girls economically independent has been launched in the state under the guidance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The pilot project has been launched in Nadia district and the model will be replicated in other districts in course of time.

 

Power, Tourism and Forestry

Sabujshree: West Bengal has created another milestone by introducing a scheme in which a sapling will be named after a new born girl child. The State Government has decided to plant a sapling with the birth of every girl child in the State. The Forest department has already talked to the chief medical officers of health in the districts for the smooth implementation of the project. Saplings would be given to the family of a new born girl child during their release from the hospitals. The baby’s parents would be urged to name the sapling on the name of the newly born girl. Initially, the saplings would be distributed to girl child but later they would also be given to the mothers of a boy child as well.

The West Bengal government has set 2017-18 as the deadline to install grid-connected rooftop solar photo-voltaic system at all public buildings. The project has been christened as `Aaloshree’.

India’s first 10 MW Canal Bank Solar PV Plant was inaugurated at Chopra, North Dinajpur. The project, which has been successfully implemented by WBSEDCL, incurred a cost of Rs 65.88 lakh.

To boost the presence of Bengal on the traveler’s itinerary, the tourism department of the state has launched a mobile app based on the theme of ‘Experience Bengal’. Alongside information on places of tourist interest, the app would be loaded with other facilities like maps and directions.

The ‘tiger safari’ at Bengal Safari Park at Sukna was launched on January 22 by the CM.

 

 

Bengal Govt to launch ‘Gender Budgeting’

Bengal Government is soon going to launch ‘gender budgeting’. Speaking at seminar on condition of women in workplace, Dr Shashi Panja, the Minister for Women and Child Welfare, said that the government would soon launch ‘gender budgeting’.

Through this exercise the government would ascertain how many women are benefiting from various women-centric schemes, the number of female government employees, how much money is being spent on women welfare by various departments, among other things.

The data will help the government chart goals for the future and continue to work for the upliftment of women in society.

 

রাজ্যে চালু হতে চলেছে ‘জেন্ডার বাজেটিং’

রাজ্যে সরকারি চাকরি ও সরকারি প্রকল্প থেকে কত মহিলা উপকৃত হচ্ছেন তা জানতে উদ্যোগী হল রাজ্য সরকার। শনিবার একটি আলোচনাসভায় এই কথা জানান নারী ও শিশুকল্যাণ মন্ত্রী শশী পাঁজা।

তিনি বলেন, রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন দপ্তরে জেন্ডার বাজেটিং এর উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হয়েছে।

কি এই জেন্ডার বাজেটিং? কন্যাশ্রী, বিধবা ভাতা, সবুজ সাথী, স্বনির্ভর যোজনার মত নানা প্রকল্পে কত মহিলা উপকৃত এবং রাজ্যের সরকারি পরিকাঠামোয় কত মহিলা কাজ করছেন, তা জানতেই এই উদ্যোগ। নানা প্রকল্পের লক্ষ্যমাত্রা কতটা পূরণ হয়েছে এবং সেটি পূরণ করতে কি কি প্লানিং দরকার সেটি ঠিক করতে পারবে সরকার।

Female drivers in Kolkata cabs soon

Kolkata will soon boast of having women taxi drivers as the Bengal government has devised a two-pronged strategy to bring them on the driver’s seat – training for drivers and training to defend themselves in case of a sudden attack. The entire programme is targeted to provide financial relief to women from financially weaker strata of society.

The project is being jointly coordinated by an NGO and the state government’s Woman and Child Development and Social Welfare department.

“A few women have been selected for the purpose,” the minister said, adding the training was being provided an NGO. The educational qualification has been fixed at either eighth standard or matriculation.

“There has been a growing demand for women drivers. Of late, there is an increase in demand for women cab drivers in the state,” the Minister said. The minister said the government would get in touch with private cab service companies also to hire trained women drivers.

 

খুব শিগগিরি কলকাতার রাস্তায় দেখা যাবে মহিলা ট্যাক্সিচালক

রাজ্য সরকারের উদ্যোগে খুব শিগগিরি কলকাতার রাস্তায় দেখা যাবে মহিলা ট্যাক্সিচালক। মহিলাদের গাড়ি চালানো সেখানোর পাশাপাশি তাদের আত্মরক্ষার প্রশিক্ষণও দেওয়া হবে। অর্থনৈতিকভাবে সমাজের পিছিয়ে পড়া শ্রেণীর মহিলাদের স্বাবলম্বী করতেই মুলত এই উদ্যোগ নিয়েছেন রাজ্য সরকার।

একটি সেচ্ছাসেবী সংস্থা ও রাজ্য সরকারের নারী, শিশু ও সমাজ কল্যান দপ্তর যৌথভাবে এই উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে।

রাজ্যের নারী কল্যাণ মন্ত্রী বলেন, কিছু মহিলাকে এই প্রকল্পের জন্য বেছে নেওয়া হয়েছে। শিক্ষাগত যোগ্যতা হিসেবে ম্যাট্রিক বা অষ্টম শ্রেণী উত্তীর্ণ ধার্য করা হয়েছে।

মন্ত্রী বলেন, “মহিলা ট্যাক্সিচালকের চাহিদা ইদানিং বেড়েছে।” তিনি আরও বলেন, সরকার বেসরকারি ট্যাক্সি পরিষেবা প্রদানকারী সংস্থাগুলোর সঙ্গেও কথা বলবে মহিলা ট্যাক্সিচালকদের সুযোগ দেওয়ার জন্য।

Bengal Govt observes National Nutrition Week

To enhance community-based initiatives in educating mothers and caregivers on nutrition issues, the West Bengal government is observing National Nutrition Week till next Monday.

“We are carrying out a series of convergent and well-coordinated activities in different sectors in a mission mode to address the issues which may lead to under-nutrition, especially in the socially and economically backward communities,” state Women and Child Welfare Minister Dr Shashi Panja said.

The state government has mobilised their state-wide network of ICDS centres and frontline functionaries to reach out to the maximum number of people at the community level.

Child rights body UNICEF has also been working closely with the state.

UNICEF officials said nutrition is not confined to food only, rather refers to an interplay of health and immunisation, environmental and personal hygiene and sanitation, in addition to age appropriate nutritionally dense food and feeding practices.

“Nutrition is an issue of survival, health and development for current and succeeding generations. Children born underweight may have impaired immune function, increased risk of diseases, low learning abilities due to impaired cognitive ability, thus affecting their school performance and then productivity in their later life,” Panja said.

National Nutrition Week is celebrated annually from September 1 to 7.

Across all districts, activities like community-level nutrition and health promotion camps, community sensitisation sessions, cooking demonstration and recipe competition quiz shows, etc are being carried out.

WB CM launches ‘Muktir Alo’ – Rehabilitation scheme for sex workers

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today launched ‘Muktir Alo’, a rehabilitation scheme for sex workers and women rescued from human trafficking.

The proposed scheme would help them to return to the mainstream, Minister for Women and Child Development, Dr Shashi Panja had earlier said in the Assembly.

She said that the registered persons would be given house rent and transport allowance during the training period. The period of training would be six months, she said.

During the launch programme, WB CM said that her government was committed to working for the upliftment of the marginalised section of the society.

“We launched ‘Muktir Alo’ initiative for those who are downtrodden and neglected by society. It is our responsibility. We have also set up a development board for transgenders,” she said.

“We have set up a Little Star board for the welfare of little people. We are working for welfare of backward communities,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee tweeted in the morning:

Bengal village girls beat boys in attendance, Kanyashree a factor

A recently released set of data shows adolescent girls in rural Bengal setting a nationwide trend with their keenness to go to school. Comapred to their male counterparts, the central survey shows, rural girl students have a better attendance record.

The NSSO survey , carried out in January-June 2014, shows that in the gross attendance ratio and net attendance ratios in primary , upper primary and secondary classes, girls have overtaken boys by a good measure in rural Bengal. The results came in three months after the West Bengal Government’s launched its Kanyashree scheme -a conditional cash transfer or CCT to stop adolescent dropouts among girl students.

State women and child development minister Dr Shashi Panja said, “When Kanyashree was launched by the Chief Minister in October 1, 2013, it was followed by a sustained media campaign. This, we felt, had touched the common psyche. Otherwise, the number of beneficiaries would not have reached 2.5 million. In addition, we always had a Sabala project, in which, through ICDS centers in six districts, we try to spread awareness about dropping out from school. This is a welcome development.“

The minister’s statements on the impact of government schemes are not without reason. A bulk of the education infrastructure is still provided by the government, with private players lagging significantly .The NSSO survey indicates that for every 1,000 primary, upper primary, secondary and graduate schools, the government sponsors 927 while only 26 are private-aided.

What makes this attendance data significant is the amount of effort a girl in rural Bengal has to make to go to high school. For every 1,000 schools surveyed, 190 upper primary schools are approximately 2-5km from home; 23 upper primary schools are more than 5km away; 287 secondary schools are 2-5km away from home and 56 secondary schools more than 5km away.

West Bengal Government completes 1500 days in office

The Maa, Mati, Manush Government led by Ms Mamata Banerjee completes 1500 days in office today.

In the last four years, Bengal has reclaimed her position as the best among states in several sectors and has become a model for others to emulate.

 

Governance for all

The government of West Bengal sincerely believes in inclusive governance. WB CM has been working relentlessly working for people of all castes, religions, genders, communities and creed.

When Trinamool Congress led government came to power in Bengal, it had inherited a huge debt amounting to almost Rs 2 lakh crore. Despite the debt burden, governance has not slowed down in the state.

Achievements of the government

Finance and Industry

MSME Sector

Business Made Easy in Bengal

Social Security

Tourism

Disaster Management

Urban Development

Labour

Youth Services

Environment Conservation

Housing for all

School Education

Higher Education

Women and Child Development

International Recognition