Month: January 2014

The network of the government-owned cooperative stores spread over the entire state can be a formidable rival of private retail outlets if run properly. With the objectives of augmenting revenue and offering cheaper prices to consumers in mind, the state cooperation department is planning to revamp the working hours of these cooperative stores so that consumers can step into them whenever they like as they do in private retail outlets.

As a first step the state government is planning on extending the working hours of its cooperatives-run retail shops. Private retail outlets are open from morning till night and most of private retails shops’ employees work on shift duty basis. Hence they are earning huge profits.

The Minister for Cooperation department said that he will start visiting the state government-run cooperative retail outlets shortly to see the existing infrastructure and later take a final decision. “The state government has a large number of cooperative shops. If we could extend the time, we could provide better services to customers and thus the government revenue will be augmented,” he said. “Cooperative movements were destroyed during the Left Front tenure. State-run cooperative shops were lying sick during the erstwhile Left Front tenure,” he said.

The state government is also planning to sell several handicrafts items from the cooperative shops. The officials of the cooperation department were asked to find out new ways for augmenting the revenues of the cooperative shops, among others, by carrying new varieties of commodities.

The state is also planning to sell fresh vegetables and fruits from these shops. Several specials items from districts like `Joynogorer Moa`, milk products and other kind of foods will also be sold from state-run cooperatives shops. The Cooperation department is also planning on selling potatoes, seeds, fertilizers and agricultural equipment from state-run cooperatives shops in the rural areas.

“The cooperation department has asked BENFED, the state cooperative marketing federation, for coming up with a plan on the kind of products for the farmers that could be sold in the cooperative shops,” the Minister said. “Our state-run cooperative shops are located everywhere in the state. It has a good marketing chain and the department wants to utilize it fully for augmenting revenue,” he said.

Cooperation department officials will also visit outside states including Punjab, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for ideas on boosting the cooperative movement for the benefit of general consumers and farmers and meet the government run cooperative marketing federation in those states.

Bengal is planning to have a single-window clearance for infotech (IT) projects similar to the one set up for industrial proposals.

The state is also weighing a proposal to set up an IT sub-committee or a task force and will study the feasibility of such a facility.

“The IT companies I interacted with today have stressed the need to have a single window for speedy clearance. Having representatives of multiple departments under one roof will enhance the convenience,” Bengal IT minister Partha Chatterjee said.

The minister interacted with companies and stakeholders of the sector yesterday to encourage entrepreneurship, discuss issues affecting the companies operating here and put key infrastructure in place to fuel growth.

As part of the new West Bengal Policy on Information and Communication Technology, 2012 and West Bengal ICT Incentive Scheme, 2012, the state has set a target to achieve 15 per cent of the country�s ICT revenue by 2020.

After assuming power, the Trinamool-led state government had set up an IT advisory committee led by N.R. Narayana Murthy of Infosys and Sam Pitroda as a member.

“We also want to set up a `technology bhavan` which other states already have. While things are yet to be finalised, this can come up on government land. We have land available in Sector V of Salt Lake and Rajarhat. Everyone agreed that the IT sector has prospects as it generates employment,” Chatterjee said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee announced on her Facebook page that essential medicines and available diagnostic services in government run health centres and hospitals will be provided free of cost to rural people. 

She also announced that the Medical Colleges in Bankura, Malda and North Bengal will be upgraded and specialized services on areas like oncology, nephrology, endocrinology, pediatric surgery and more will be provided at these hospitals along with facilities of trauma care.

The landmark decision comes after the innovative idea of introducing Fair Price Medicine shops, which were adopted as national model by the Central Government. The Health Department is also setting up Fair Price Diagnostic Centres in all the districts.

On her Facebook page, Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee wrote:

“I am very happy to share with all of you a landmark decision.

 Essential medicines and available diagnostic services will now be provided free of cost to rural people in government run health centres and hospitals.

 I am also happy to share with you that Bankura Medical College, Malda Medical College and North Bengal Medical College will soon be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs.450 Crore and facilities of trauma care, specialized services on areas like oncology, nephrology, endocrinology, pediatric surgery and more will be provided.

 This is in addition to the 35 Multi/Super-Specialty Hospitals that we are already building to boost the health infrastructure facilities in the state.”

The State Public Works Department (PWD) have divided all its circles into three zones – North, West and South for better supervision and monitoring of development projects of various government department entrusted to PWD all over the state.

The PWD authorities were mulling on the plan to reorganize all its circles with the aim to implement the concept of coming up with three zones – North zone, West zone and South zone – so that the authorities can properly monitor and supervise all development projects that have been entrusted on them by the other departments.

The PWD has several circles under the PWD road division, national highway and state highway division. Officials said that reorganizing all its circles in the three zones will help them to manage their work more effectively.

Shankar Chakraborty, the new PWD Minister after Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee made some reshuffling in the cabinet, sat with senior department officials at his room in Nabanna to get an idea on the overall situation and how things are to be done.

The state PWD is being entrusted by several government departments to execute various development projects. The authorities are working on projects of setting up schools, college buildings, hospitals and sports complexes in the Jangalmahal districts. The authorities have also been working to execute several road projects in several districts, mainly in Jangalmahal and North Bengal. Though some of the projects are going as per schedule, there are quite a few projects that are running late due to various reasons. By reorganizing and relocating the PWD circles into the three zones, the authorities will be able to effectively supervise projects, officials said.

The PWD have also been entrusted with the housing department's pilot project of setting up motels along state highways like Digha Road, Basanti highway and Kalyani highway. The authorities had also taken up a project to set up government guest houses in Jhargram beside the Rajbari and few others places in the state.

The News was first published on The Times of India dated 4/1/2014

After relentless efforts by the State Government, led by the vision of Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the business chambers are flocking back to Bengal. That the chief minister means business was exemplified by her attitude towards bandhs, introduction of an administrative calendar to bring transparency and accountability in Govt work, rigorous review meetings to take stock of the implementation of different schemes. The development of infrastructure and framing of a new industrial policy also helped her win the confidence of business chambers.

The WB CM won hearts at a meeting with biz leaders in Mumbai, in August last year. In December she addressed a plenary session of a business conclave. Recently, FICCI expressed faith in the potential of West Bengal as an investment destination.

Kolkata will witness yet another business meet `Business @ Bengal` from January 9 to 10, organized jointly by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industries and Non Resident Overseas Association of Bengal.  Around 50 representatives from different countries will participate in this meet, to discuss investment and business opportunities in the state.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has chosen Kolkata as the venue of its national council meeting after 3 years, following the consent from the Chief Minister. The meet will take place on January 17 at Town Hall. Business leaders form more than 80 top business houses will attend the meet.

The latest meetings will happen at a time when the CM has been devoting much more attention to industry, the biggest sign of which has been the appointment of Dr Amit Mitra, a former FICCI chief, as minister in charge of industry and commerce.

The West Bengal Government on Friday announced a pilot project to provide financial assistance to marginal farmers of the state so that they can have their own storehouses and vending carts.

Although there are 24 lakh small and marginal farmers in the state, only around 10,000 such farmers would be covered initially. A decision in this regard was taken at a cabinet meeting at the new secretariat, Nabanna, here on Friday.

The two schemes, named by Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee, are Amar Fosho, Amar Gola (My Crop, My Storehouse) and Amar Foshol, Amar Gari (My crop, my vehicle).

The state government has allocated around Rs 170 crore for the two projects for the remaining three months of the current financial year.

After the cabinet meeting, state Urban Development Minister Firhad (Bobby) Hakim told the press that under the Amar Foshol, Amar Gola project, the subsidy provided by the government will vary between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 depending on the nature of the warehouse.

In the case of the Amar Foshol, Amar Gari project, the rate of subsidy would be Rs 10,000 flat. “This project will facilitate those farmers who wish to directly sell their products to end users,” Hakim said.

He said that the subsidy amount would be directly credited to the bank accounts of those farmers who own Kisan Credit Cards.

During Friday’s meeting, another crucial decision taken was to allow the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) to increase the number of mayor-in-council from five to 10 and raise the number of boroughs from five to seven.

“This will relieve the burden on the mayor-in-councils as well as the borough chairmen, who would then able to function more effectively,” he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday evening announced the names of 13 new Parliamentary Secretaries who will enjoy the status of a Minister of State. They will be inducted into the government on 3 January.

The newly-announced Parliamentary Secretaries include: 

The state government had earlier on 21 January, 2013 inducted 13 Parliamentary Secretaries, out of whom Dr Shashi Panja was elevated to the position of a Minister of State on 26 December.

“Workload in the state government has increased remarkably but the number of ministers and secretaries that we have is very minimal. There are instances wherein one minister is even looking after three-four departments. In case of secretaries, too, while the sanctioned strength is 317, we now have only about 212-213,” Ms. Banerjee said at Nabanna last evening. 

“To reduce their work-pressure and expedite the functioning of the state government, we have decided to induct more Parliamentary Secretaries.”

“They will oversee schemes like the 100 Days Job, Nija Bhumi Nija Griha and the various health programmes,” the chief minister added.

The new Parliamentary Secretaries were sworn in by the chief minister in the state Assembly at 12.30 PM on 3 January.

আগামী ২০ জানুয়ারি শিলিগুড়ি থেকে একই মঞ্চ থেকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর শাখা সচিবালয় ও উত্তরবঙ্গ উত্সবের উদ্বোধন করা হবে বলে জানালেন উত্তরবঙ্গ উন্নয়নমন্ত্রী গৌতম দেব। বৃহস্পতিবার শিলিগুড়িতে তৃণমূলের দলীয় কার্যালয়ে বসে এই খবর জানান তিনি। সচিবালয় উদ্বোধন উপলক্ষে একসঙ্গে ২৫ জন বিভিন্ন দফতরের মন্ত্রীরও হাজির থাকার কথা শিলিগুড়িতে। সেই সঙ্গে অভিনেতা প্রসেনজিত্‌ এবং গায়ক নচিকেতাকে দিয়ে এ বারের উত্তরবঙ্গ উত্‌সবকে আকর্ষণীয় করে তোলার পরিকল্পনা নিয়েছে উত্তরবঙ্গ উন্নয়ন দফতর। এবারে মোট ৬ জনকে বঙ্গরত্ন দেওয়া হবে। এবারে মালদহ ও উত্তর দিনাজপুরের দুই জেলার সংস্কৃতি ও শিল্পকে তুলে ধরার পরিকল্পনা এ বারের উত্তরবঙ্গ উত্সবে।

উত্‌সব উপলক্ষে একটি তথ্যচিত্রও তৈরি করা হয়েছে। যা উত্সবের মধ্যে প্রকাশ করা হবে। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর স্বপ্নে উত্তরবঙ্গ থিমে `ড্রিম` নাম দিয়ে এই তথ্যচিত্রের পরিকল্পনা করা হয়েছে। গতবারের মত এবারেও উদ্বোধনী অনুষ্ঠানে এক হাজারের বেশি কচিকাঁচাদের দিয়ে কাঞ্চনজঙ্ঘা স্টেডিয়ামে গান গাওয়ানো হবে। যা একটি বিশ্ব রেকর্ড বলে মন্ত্রী মনে করছেন। গিনেস বুকে নাম ওঠানোর জন্য প্রক্রিয়াও চালু হয়ে গিয়েছে।

সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠান ও জলসা ছাড়াও বিভিন্ন খেলা থাকছে উত্‌সব সূচিতে। ক্রিকেট, ফুটবল, ভলিবল ও ম্যারাথন দৌড়কে তালিকায় রাখা হয়েছে। শিলিগুড়িতে ক্রিকেট, জলপাইগুড়ির ওদলাবাড়ি ও দার্জিলিঙের হাতিঘিষায় ফুটবলের ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে। শিলিগুড়িতে হবে ম্যারাথনও। কাঞ্চনজঙ্ঘা স্টেডিয়ামে হাজারের উপরে ছেলেমেয়েদের অঙ্কণ প্রতিযোগিতাও হবে গতবারের মতই। উত্তরবঙ্গের একশো জন মেধাবী ছাত্রকে ১০ হাজার টাকা করে এবং মালদহের ১৫ জন ছাত্রকে ১০ হাজার টাকা করে দেওয়া হবে। ৬ টি জেলার একশোটি ক্লাবকে ৫০ হাজার টাকা করে দেওয়া হবে।

প্রসঙ্গত, প্রথম বছর উত্তরবঙ্গ উত্সবের থিম জেলা ছিল দার্জিলিং ও জলপাইগুড়ি, দ্বিতীয় বছরে দক্ষিণ দিনাজপুর ও কোচবিহার। এবছরে নতুন দুটি জেলাকে থিম করা হয়েছে।

West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan was all praise for the Mamata Banerjee government for launching the administrative calendar 2014, first ever by a state government. “I may be accused of exaggerated praise of the state government. I have never been so enthusiastic about any programme as I am with this one. The calendar needs to be uploaded on internet and citizens should have the chance to monitor the progress of the project,” Narayanan said.

This is the first time that the governor of a state stepped into the state secretariat. “Normally, when there is no President`s rule, the governor is not supposed to step into the secretariat,” Narayanan said.

The 250-page administrative calendar lists up for all the 61 departments projects to be completed every month. Some departments like child & women development and social welfare, judicial and labour have provided date-wise targets for project completion. “It was a difficult task for the departments to come up with such detailed programme within a short notice,“ Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. According to her, discipline is needed in the administration to bring in good governance. The CM appreciated the hard work by state officials despite low staff strength. “Ministers and secretaries have to handle multiple departments. We have thus engaged parliamentary secretaries to facilitate the work,” Mamata said.

The CM took the first step. She has set month-wise targets. The departments will now be accountable to chase the projects because the CM might take stock of the progress on a regular basis. The CM plans to take the practice down to the lowest rung of the administration. District magistrates and block development officers will also be asked to prepare district-wise calendars for individual departments. “A similar model will now be replicated at district and block levels. If that is successful it might be followed for the gram panchayats too,” said a government official.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra said that the calendar was planned for bringing in more efficiency in the state administration and it will also help to give reply to RTI queries as well. Mitra hoped that the calendar will be infusing transparency and credibility to the administration.

In a programme organized by the West Bengal Tele Academy, Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee felicitated personalities from the Bengali television world on January 3, 2014.

The West Bengal Tele Academy Awards is a first of its kind initiative by the State Govt where actors, producers and technicians were felicitated for their performances round the year.