Month: January 2014

Inaugurating the third edition of the five-day Uttar Banga Utsav at the Kanchenjunga stadium, Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee said North Bengal has got a new lease of life through the festival. She said a wave of new excitement has now swept the region that “now basks in the new light that has appeared.”

“I am happy to see this collage created by people belonging to different cultures of the six districts of north Bengal; the songs and the dances performed here today are beautiful,” the Chief Minister said, amid cheers from the crowd that swelled by the minute. She was referring to the cultural show that was staged by artistes in colourful traditional attire to kick-start the event.

“I wish well the people of the region and hope this new light spreads in the days to come,” she added.

Giving the Chief Minister a hand in lighting the inaugural lamp were actor, Prosenjit and music director and singer/ composer, Bappi Lahiri.

At the event attended by people of all walks of life and top government and police officials, the CM also felicitated distinguished personalities of the six districts in North Bengal for their contribution to the region in various fields.  The seven personalities who received this year`s `Banga Ratna Samman` awards were educationist Pradyut Ghosh, scientist Sandip Chakrabarty, `charon kobi` Md Zahiruddin Mian, folk singer Dhaneswar Roy, litterateurs Satyaranjan Das and Pranab Kumar Mukherjee and former IPS officer Krishna Singh Moktan.

Also awarded was a student, Pritam Chettri from Madarihat for his invention of a safety device for cooking gas cylinders, while she gave away scholarships worth Rs 10,000 each to 135 students of different areas of the region. She further announced cash rewards for different sports clubs in the region.

A series of events, including drawing competitions, a marathon, cultural shows and concerts by various popular artistes, will be held in all the six districts during the festival that will end with a formal programme at the Kanchenjunga stadium on 26 January.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee today began her 4-day North Bengal tour, during which she inaugurated the mini secretariat for North Bengal, thus fulfilling a long standing demand of the people of this region. The Chief Minister inaugurated 6 projects for the progress of North Bengal and laid the foundation of 18 new development initiatives for the region.

Speaking on the occasion, WB CM sent a stern message to the separatist groups, asking them to desist from indulging in violence. While highlighting the work done by her govt in the past two and a half years, the Chief Minister asked the people of North Bengal to join the development bandwagon.

Excerpts from WB CM`s speech on the occasion:

Today we are joined by representatives of all the 6 districts of North Bengal. I welcome you all.

You have heard the Chief Secretary of the state informing you that 18 departments of the West Bengal Government will be housed in the new mini Secretariat here.

A political party after coming to power works according to the manifesto, which it published prior to the elections. Before we came to power, we made certain commitments to the people. We said that we would bring peace in Hills. The Hills are smiling now. I congratulate all the MLAs of Darjeeling and members of GTA. I congratulate the common man because of whom peace has been restored.

During the past couple of years, I have visited the North Bengal 26 times. I know that the people in North Bengal have been neglected for a long time. Now I have asked my ministers and other leaders to look after the needs of the people in every district.

We made a commitment that if we come to power, we will create a secretariat for North Bengal. Even after 66 years of Independence, North Bengal did not have a Secretariat. We have set up one in 32 months. We will need more time to expand the new administrative building. But one has to start somewhere to reach a final destination.

Earlier, files related to North Bengal had to be sent to Kolkata for clearance, because of which work got delayed. But now this will not happen anymore, thanks to Uttar Kanya. Work will have to be completed on a daily basis now. For speeding up work process we have appointed a financial adviser for this secretariat and we will appoint an additional chief secretary too. Every minister will have to visit Uttar Kanya regularly.

Discipline dedication, determination and devotion are the main pillars of democracy. Making speeches is easy, but actions speak louder than words. We have a huge debt burden, yet we are standing with our head held high. We are working despite the Centre`s non-cooperation.

We need to have strong will and determination to excel. You must love the work you do to excel. We have made commitments to the people. Fulfilling the commitment is our duty. Uttar Kanya will go down in history as the symbol of peace, unity and progress.

We do not support separatist movements. We do not want any division of Bengal. We don`t want and bloodshed or death. Let Uttar Kanya be the answer of all the demands. Those who could not do anything, it is the time for you to keep quiet and let us do the work. For 35 years, Bengal has slowly been sliding backwards.

We want our Maa, Mati, Manush to stay well. It is not possible to do everything in just a day. There has been a flood of development in North Bengal in the recent years. Big projects have been taken up in every district of North Bengal.

In Darjeeling a number of programmes are lined up for the next few days. On January 22nd, we will inaugurate the renovated Roy Villa at Lebong, the house where Sister Nivedita breathed her last. The house has now been transformed to Nivedita Educational & Cultural Institute under the guidance of Ramakrishna Mission.

We will hand over the prizes to the winners of the Marathon race organized by the District Police on 22 January. On January 23, for the first time, the official celebration of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose`s birth anniversary will be held in Darjeeling.

We are serious about developing tourism in North Bengal. We have undertaken a project to establish Gazaldoba as a tourism hub. We are inaugurating an industrial estate in Ambari Falakata. 30000 people will get employment there. We are developing a film city near Bagdogra. Gazoldoba will become a tourism hub. Banarhat will be a hub of small scale industry. A lot of ancillary industries will come up in these two places.

This is the 150th birth anniversary of Rajbanshi icon Panchanan Barma. We will celebrate it with due honour. We have set up a Rajbanshi Academy and a university named after Panchanan Verma at Coochbehar. We have set up an expert committee to decide on giving recognition to Rajbanshi language.

In a tragic incident last month, a few of my brothers were killed in a bomb blast in Jalpaiguri. I condemn this incident. I urge you all not to support violence. Violence can never be a solution to any problem. If the terrorists want, they can kill me, but spare innocent lives. Today we will hand over letters of appointment to the family of the victims of Jalpaiguri blast. This is our small tribute to those who died. We will also hand over an ex-gracia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the victims. We are always by their side.

Let Uttar Kanya be the pride of the people of North Bengal.  Earlier there was only Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority. We have introduced a full-fledged department with a cabinet minister for North Bengal development. There were around 300 pending projects in this area. We have already completed 265 projects and 10 are ongoing.

Like Kolkata has Nabanna, North Bengal now has Uttar Kanya. We are moving on a fast pace. That is the necessity of the day. Let us all walk together in this process of development.

Trinamool Congress will hold a worker`s conference in Kalimpong on 22 January. Hundreds of people from the Hills with attend the conference. A number of workers from other parties are expected to join Trinamool Congress on this day.

 

Peace had been restored in the Hills after Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011. Despite month-long agitation and bandh in Darjeeling last year, WB CM handled the dissent with a two-pronged strategy and countered the agitators both administratively and politically. Recently, Bimal Gurung took the oath of office as the GTA Chief.

The party is on a process of strengthening its strength in the Hills with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls. It already has active cells of YUVA and Yubo Trinamool Congress apart from the Women`s wing, Labour wing and Minority cell in the Hills.

 

A number of tea garden workers in this region are active members of INTTUC, which is working hard to uphold labour rights alongside playing an active role in reopening the closed tea gardens.

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee is visiting North Bengal again. Fulfilling her promise, she is going to inaugurate the North Bengal Secretariat – Uttar Kanya at Kamrangaguri near Siliguri today. This move will usher in a new surge of development in an area which the earlier Government had neglected for 34 long years.

After inaugurating the new Secretariat, Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the 3rd Uttarbanga Utsav, beginning today at Kanchenjunga stadium, Siliguri. The event will continue till January 26, 2014.

In this programme, the prestigious Banga Samman will be awarded to six distinguished personalities from six districts of North Bengal, whose contributions have enriched West Bengal`s culture. Being a visionary, Ms. Mamata Banerjee had successfully decentralised governance and taken the Secretariat to the people through her district tours.

Different government aids and services will also be distributed by the Chief Minister on the occasion. She will give away cheques of Nija Griha Nija Bhumi, Kanyashree, Swami Vivekananda Swanirvar Karma Sangsthan schemes; pension for people belonging to SC and ST, caste certificates, Kisan Credit Cards, pump sets, power tillers and equipment for fishermen will be distributed on the spot.

The Chief Minister will leave for Mirik today evening where she will be present at a programme organised by the Tamang Youth Association.

On January 22nd, she will inaugurate the renovated Roy Villa at Lebong, the house where Sister Nivedita breathed her last. The house has now been transformed to Nivedita Educational & Cultural Institute. She will also hand over prizes to the winners of the first ever Hill Marathon organised jointly by the district police and the Tourism department.

On January 23, for the first time, the State Government will celebrate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the Hills. In a programme to be held at Gidda in Kurseong, the Chief Minister will pay tribute to the Bengal icon. The Chief Minister will also lay the foundation stones of 4 Ropeway Services in the Hills and Kurseong Medical College.

The change in government came two and a half years ago. Now, Poriborton wave swept student union polls in the state too. TMCP captured Calcutta University students` union, uprooting SFI for the first time since 1978. TMCP claims that SFI has lost power because of organisational weakness.

Polls were held in College Street, Alipore, Hazra Law College, Ballygunge Science College and Razabazar campus of CU. Out of 850 odd seats, TMCP won in 461 seats.

The elections were held amid tight security, in the presence of police. The Vice Chancellor of CU Suranjan Das said, “The polls were held following all rules and regulations. They were free and fair. There were no incidents of violence anywhere“.

The President of TMCP Shankudeb Panda said, “SFI had given up on contesting even before the elections took place. The support of students was with us“.

27 colleges under CU went to polls yesterday. Barring Victoria College (where SFI won uncontested) and Jogomaya Devi College (where DSO formed the union), students of all other colleges expressed their trust in TMCP.

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চৌত্রিশ বছর পরে কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ছাত্র সংসদ হাতছাড়া হল এসএফআইয়ের। নির্বাচনে জয়ী হয়ে এ বার ওই ছাত্র সংসদের দখল নিল তৃণমূল ছাত্র পরিষদ (টিএমসিপি)। ১৯৭৮ সাল থেকে ২০১২ পর্যন্ত ওই বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ছাত্র সংসদ ছিল এসএফআইয়ের দখলে। ২০১৩-য় ছাত্রভোট হয়নি।

টিএমসিপি-র দাবি, সাংগঠনিক দুর্বলতার জন্যই হেরেছে এসএফআই।

শনিবার কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের কলেজ স্ট্রিট, আলিপুর, হাজরা আইন কলেজ, রাজাবাজার এবং বালিগঞ্জ বিজ্ঞান কলেজে নির্বাচন ছিল। প্রায় ৮৫০ আসনের মধ্যে ৪৬১টিতে তারা জিতেছে টিএমসিপি।

নির্বিঘ্নে নির্বাচন করতে কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের ক্যাম্পাসগুলিতে প্রচুর পুলিশকর্মী মোতায়েন করা হয়েছিল। বিকেলে উপাচার্য সুরঞ্জন দাস বলেন, “নিয়ম মেনে শান্তিতে নির্বাচন হয়েছে। কোথাও কোনও অপ্রীতিকর ঘটনা ঘটেনি।“

টিএমসিপি-র রাজ্য সভাপতি শঙ্কুদেব পণ্ডার বক্তব্য, “এসএফআই তো আগেই হাল ছেড়ে দিয়েছে। ওরা সে ভাবেই লড়েইনি! তা ছাড়া, সাধারণ ছাত্রছাত্রীদের সমর্থন যে আমাদের প্রতি, এই জয় তারই প্রমাণ।“

এ দিন কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের মোট ২৭টি কলেজে নির্বাচন ছিল। ভিক্টোরিয়া কলেজে বিনা প্রতিদ্বন্দ্বিতায় জিতেছে এসএফআই। এ ছাড়া যোগমায়া বাদে বাকি সব ক’টিতেই টিএমসিপি জয়ী হয়েছে।

The mini secretariat for North Bengal will house 18 state government departments, with powers to approve funds and projects for the six districts in the region. Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the mini secretariat on 20 January.

According to sources at Nabanna, the 18 departments to be housed in Uttar Kanya are Agriculture, Animal Resources Development, Backward Classes Welfare, Cooperation, Commerce and Industry, Finance, Hill Affairs, Health & Family Welfare, Housing, Labour, Municipal Affairs, Minority Affairs & Madrasah Education, Micro & Small Scale Enterprises & Textiles, Public Works Department, School Education, Transport, Women & Social Welfare and the North Bengal Development Department.

Besides these, there will also be a wing of the Chief Minister`s Office (CMO) having separate chambers for the CM and her secretariat staff.

The 18 departments at the mini secretariat will be headed by officers in the rank of joint secretary to additional secretary and they will be delegated the powers to approve funds and projects. The state Personnel & Administrative Reforms department is finalising a list of such officers who will be deputed from Kolkata to the mini secretariat.

Besides this, the minister concerned of the 18 departments will also divide their time between their offices in Kolkata and the North Bengal mini secretariat. “The minister will visit Siliguri at least once a month if not more. This will hopefully expedite the process of decision making and implementation,” an official at Nabanna said.

At a function held earlier this evening, West Bengal Chief Minister gave away awards for outstanding service on duty to personnel from the police force. Apart from the police force, several civilians who performed outstanding acts of bravery in service of other citizens were also honoured. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister highlighted the schemes launched by the Govt for the police force, and praised the forces for their contribution to the society.

Excerpts from the Chief Minister`s speech:

I am very honoured to be present at this event. I can see spiritual leaders from various communities sitting here. We must always follow the path shown by them and seek their guidance. Many notable citizens are also present on this occasion. The members of Kolkata Police force as well as their families are also present. I welcome you all.

This programme was supposed to be held yesterday. But due to the sad demise of Suchitra Sen, the event had to be postponed.

The Police force has to perform a variety of duties. Kolkata Police has some special duties. From sports events to cultural events, religious festivals, Kolkata Police has splendidly performed the duty of crowd control. Kolkata Police performs big tasks very well. Sometimes they fumble in case of small issues. That should be a learning experience. That is how we become wiser and move on in life.

Police officers perform their duties tirelessly. Some of them work till late at night, and resume duty at dawn. Police officers are human too. They might lose their cool at times, because of being overwork. We must bear with them. There are shades of grey in every sphere. We must censure the bad, but never forget to honour the good. We must separate the good from the bad, and give the bad ones a chance to reform. If it does not work, then we must take action.

We must always think positive. Negative thoughts influence our actions. Positive thoughts boost our productivity. Discipline, dedication and devotion are the biggest asset of human beings.

I am proud of my police force. They are very good. I have tried to do my best for the benefit of the police force; not just the serving officers, but for their families as well. I have cleared a housing scheme for the police force. We will also set up educational institutes for their children. We have constituted mediclaim insurance for the police force. Next of kin of those who die on duty, have always got jobs under our Govt.

We are going to construct 45 Mahila Adalats. We have recruited 1,30,000 people for civic police. Over and above that number, we are still going to recruit for our forces. We are generating a lot of employment opportunities. We have divided big police stations into smaller ones, set up commissionerates for better policing.

Kolkata Police has launched aerial supervision of the city. This is amazing work. If you have the will, you can do good work. Yes you can. Kolkata Police will become the best police force in Biswa Bangla.

We are now offering constables to opt for service in home district. You can go and apply to your supervisers. Work with dedication. Perform your duties well. Our mental and moral support is with you and your families. I do not like become the cause of misery of someone`s life; I prefer making a difference to their lives.

Jai Hind. Jay Hey.

Dr Upen Biswas, Minister in Charge, Backward Classes Welfare Department, announced the opening of a puppet museum by the end of this year at Ambedkar Bhavan at Kankurgachi, Kolkata.

Dr Biswas said that the Rajasthan has progressed a lot in puppetry whereas West Bengal despite having immense talent is lagging far behind, the art of puppetry is on the verge of being abolished. He adds that the Government will introduce and extend loan facilities to the artisans and puppet makers and puppetry artists so that they can flourish. The Government is trying to give social recognition to the puppet artists through `Karigaar Haat` and through opening of a puppet museum at Kankurgachi. 16 puppet artists were given `Hastashilpi Card` which recognised and bestowed them with the status of `Handicraft artisans`.

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গ্রামবাংলার অখ্যাত পুতুল শিল্পীদের নিয়ে এক নতুন উদ্যোগে সামিল রাজ্যের অনগ্রসর শ্রেণি কল্যাণ বিভাগ। বাংলার পুতুলশিল্পের স্মারক একটি সংগ্রহশালায় এ রাজ্যের লোকজীবনের একটি দলিল বাঁচিয়ে রাখতে চাইছেন মন্ত্রী উপেন বিশ্বাস। সংগ্রহশালাটি সাজিয়ে তুলতেই কলকাতায় এসে পুতুল গড়ায় হাত দিচ্ছেন পুতুল শিল্পীরা। একটি বেসরকারি সংস্থার আয়োজনে শুক্রবার থেকে `কারিগর হাট` নামে দশ দিনের লোকসংস্কৃতির মেলা বসেছে বিআইটিএমে। সেখান থেকেই পুতুল সংগ্রহশালার কাজও শুরু হচ্ছে।

রাজ্যের অনগ্রসর শ্রেণি কল্যাণ মন্ত্রী উপেনবাবুর দাবি, “সাংস্কৃতিক পরিচয় ছাড়া বাংলার অনগ্রসর শ্রেণিকে জানা যাবে না। আর বাংলার সংস্কৃতি চর্চার ইতিহাস, বাউল–ভাটিয়ালি–পটশিল্প থেকে শুরু করে সব কিছুই অনগ্রসর শ্রেণির হাতেই পুষ্ট।” এ রাজ্যের সরকারে পরিবর্তনের পরে কাঁকুড়গাছিতে অনগ্রসর শ্রেণি কল্যাণ বিভাগের গবেষণার শাখা কালচারাল রিসার্চ ইনস্টিটিউটের ভবনটি পুরোদস্তুর সাজিয়েছে অনগ্রসর শ্রেণি কল্যাণ বিভাগ। `অম্বেডকর ভবন` নাম দিয়ে কার্যত পরিত্যক্ত বাড়িটিতে হচ্ছে সংগ্রহালয়ও। ওই বাড়িতেই পুরনো নানা নৌকার রকমফের সাজিয়ে তৈরি হয়েছে `বোট মিউজিয়াম`। এ বার পাপেট মিউজিয়ামের উদ্যোগ।

মন্ত্রী বলেন, “পুতুলনাচের আঙ্গিক থেকে বাংলার লোকজীবনের একটা ছবিও মিউজিয়ামে রাখা থাকবে। ছ`মাসেই মিউজিয়াম চালু হবে।” কাঁথা সংগ্রহালয়ের মতো আরও কিছু পরিকল্পনা আছে। মন্ত্রীর আশা, পুতুল নিয়ে চর্চা বাড়লে রাজস্থানি কাঠপুতুলের মতো বাংলার পুতুলও আন্তর্জাতিক ক্ষেত্রে বিশেষ মর্যাদা খুঁজে পাবে।

Rajya Sabha elections for 55 seats will be held in the month of February, out of which 5 seats are from Bengal. One of these seats will be given to Shri Mithun Chakraborty from All India Trinamool Congress. Shri Chakraborty is a well-known film personality. He has devoted his life to the cause of cultural and social activities with great success. He is an asset not only of West Bengal, but also of the entire country.

The election is scheduled on February 7, 2014. The last date of filing nomination is on January 28, 2014. The notification will be published on January 21. The term for 5 existing MPs ends on April 2, 2014.

Trinamool Congress has 186 MLAs in State Assembly. Besides, it has support of 6 other MLAs. The last few months have seen several MLAs from different opposition parties joining Trinamool Congress to become a part of the developmental surge by the Trinamool Government under Ms. Mamata Banerjee.

The West Bengal Assembly, which has 294 members, will allow Trinamool Congress to directly field three candidates who may win uncontested. For the fourth and the fifth seat, there will be vote through ballots. For the fourth seat, Trinamool Congress should get somewhat easy ride as it has the support of 192 MLAs, combining the outside supports, which is around 65.3% of total votes.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has confirmed that it will hold a big international event next year in Kolkata to showcase the business potential of the city and the state.

At the CII`s national council meet here today, President Kris Gopalakrishnan announced the plan to hold the event to commemorate 120-years of the trade body.

The Bengal government will be a partner to the event while Sanjiv Goenka, Kolkata`s one of the most well-known corporate face and chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, will spearhead the show as its chairman.

Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee, who spoke to the members of the CII over the phone, thanked the chamber for bringing the event to Bengal and said the state would extend all support.

The CII in its original form was set up in Kolkata in 1895 before a shift to Delhi in the 1970s. There will be a series of events next year, and the Kolkata event will be part of them.

Goenka said the month and date would be finalised later in consultation with the state government. “Lots of planning has to be done before we decide on it.”

Chandrajit Banerjee, director-general of the CII, said the international event would be “very big… on the scale of the partnership summit”.

The national council meet took place after more than three years in Kolkata following Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee`s decision to attend the meet.

However, she had to skip the crucial investor meet at the last minute, as she was busy with the cremation of actress Suchitra Sen.

Dr Amit Mitra, the minister of finance and industries, officiated the meeting in the absence of the Chief Minister.

Dr Mitra, the former secretary-general of CII`s rival trade body FICCI, listed the successes of the government. He assured that there was no scarcity of land in Bengal.

“About 7,170 acres have been recommended under 14Y and 7,737 acres have been cleared and approved. The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation has allotted 1,651 acres that have been cleared in our own industrial parks,” he said.

Later, the Industry Minister said the meet was a historic one as he gauged the excitement in the minds of the industry representatives present. “I hope they will come in with new projects and generate employment,” he said.

During the session, over 444 acres of land were handed over by the state government to nine companies with a total investment worth of Rs 3,417.46 crore to set up their operations in different industrial parks. This includes a Rs 500-crore cement plant of 2 million tonnes at Raghunathpur, Purulia, by Emami Group.

Also, 28 food processing companies received subsidy cheques amounting to over Rs 531 crore under the technology upgradation scheme of the National Mission for Food Processing.