Month: January 2014

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee today attended the prize distribution ceremony of the sports competitions held during the Jangamahal Vivek Chetana Utsav, at Jhargram Stadium.

The programme, organised by the Youth Services Department of the State Government, saw the participation of more than 30,000 men and women. 1600 clubs took part in the sports events.  Football matches, kabaddi, archery were some of the sporting events while there was Chhau dance for cultural programme. Winners were provided with sports equipments and jerseys, apart from award certificates.

The Vivek Chetana Utsav is being held across the state to commemorate the closing ceremony of yearlong celebration of Swami Vivekananda`s 150th birth anniversary.

Apart from the prize distribution ceremony, the chief minister also inaugurated several Govt projects, laid the foundation stones for upcoming projects and distributed certifications of Govt schemes to beneficiaries.

Excerpts from the Chief Minister`s speech:

I welcome everyone present here, specially the sportspersons and Chhau artists. I am glad to inform you all that 30,000 girls and boys participated in the sports events held in the district as part of Vivek Chetana Utsav. They are all present here.  Vivek Chetana Utsav is being held to commemorate the closing ceremony of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. On 12th January, 151st Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda will be celebrated. Last year we initiated the year long celebrations with at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata through a grand programme. On January 10 this year, we will hold a big parade at the Red Road, to mark the closing ceremony.

The Vivek Chetana Utsav has already been held in Jhargram, Midnapore Sadar, Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum. Along with Government representatives and elected representatives a number of footballers from yesteryears are present here today. We have given financial help of Rs 25,000 to the 1600 clubs that participated in different sporting events. We have given special jackets to 30,000 children to help them tide over the cold winter months.  We have recruited about 15000 youths as part of police force in the past. 21,000 people were given jobs in the Civic Police Force. We shall continue the process in the future.

I am requesting all of you to study as well as take part in sports. I want all my brothers and sisters belonging to backward classes to become part of the mainstream. Your higher education must not stop at any cost, no matter what the hurdle is. We are committed to provide you all the support that you need. If you study well, you need not seek jobs; it will automatically come to you.

Swami Vivekananda once said one can attain God by playing football, rather than reciting the Geeta.  I want the footballers present to compete with players like Goutam Sarkar and Bidesh Bose, who are present on stage. Let us celebrate the Vivek Chetana Utsav with football.

The people here do not get the chance to show their talent. I request the sports ministry to showcase the athletic talent of Jangalmahal in Kolkata through various events. I thank you all. I request the district officials to keep in touch with the people. We salute you all.

Amar Jangalamhal shantir mahal, swastir mahal, shaktir mahal ebong unnayaner mahal hisebe sara prithibi ke poth dekhak.

The State Government has decided to give jobs to the family members of the six persons killed in the 26 December bomb blast at Paharpur in Jalpaiguri. Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee will hand over the appointment letters during her north Bengal visit scheduled from 20 January. 

Five persons – Lalmohan Debnath (50), Pappu Rahaman (20), Rasidul Alam (18), Arnis Mohhamed (18) and Ranjan Roy (20) – had died on the spot when a powerful bomb exploded on a concrete bridge at Paharpur on 26 December evening. Rafikul Islam (24), one of those injured in the blast, had later died of his injuries on 28 December, taking the toll to six. They were all residents of Jalpaiguri district.

According to sources, the State Government has decided to give jobs to one family member of each of the six blast victims; all of them will be recruited as home guards in Jalpaiguri. This is in addition to the Rs 2 lakh monetary compensation that the state government had earlier announced for the victim families.

“Those selected for the jobs include four males and two females. The male beneficiaries are brothers of the victims, while the two females are mothers. The mothers are aged around 37 and we are giving a special relaxation to accommodate them as home guards. The jobs are being given on compassionate ground as the families are needy ones and they have lost their bread earners,” said a senior state government official at Nabanna.

The entry age for home guards in the state is 18 to 28 years. 

“On being recruited as home guards, they will get a monthly pay of around Rs 8,000- 9,000. This, we believe, will be sufficient for their families’ sustenance as they will be posted in their home district.”

Trinamool Congress paid tribute to the 9 martyrs of the Netai massacre through different programmes. Trinamool Yubo Congress President and Tamluk MP Suvendu Adhikary was present at Netai on the occasion. On January 7, 2011, nine villagers, including three women, were killed in indiscriminate firing CPI(M) goons at Netai in Paschim Medinipur. Even the then Governor of the State Mr M K Narayanan had expressed his horror after the inhuman massacre.

Incidentally, a Shahid Minar (Martyrs` column) has come up in Nandigram to honour the deceased crusaders of the movement in Nandigram. The martyrs` column, measuring 130 feet, would stand as a symbol of sacrifice and help the coming generations learn about the movement.

The martyrs` column was unveiled by Radharani Ari, a local who was a fellow crusader during the Nandigram movement.

The names of all 14 crusaders, who laid down their lives on March 14, 2007, would be engraved on the column. The date for unveiling the column has been set for January 7, because on this day in 2007, three local Trinamool Congress supporters were murdered in cold blood by alleged armed CPI(M) harmads. The names of all crusaders who made the ultimate sacrifice during the movement would be engraved on the structure.

The martyrs` column has been built on the lines of a similar structure that came up in honour of the dead in the Netai carnage.

At a similar event in neighbouring Bhangabera, which had been the epicentre of the Nandigram movement, 130 feet column would be unveiled. The crusaders aligned to the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC), an umbrella outfit to fight against forced acquisition of land, had mobilized a campaign against the setting up of a chemical hub and a special economic zone in the area.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee became the first Chief Minister of West Bengal since independence to visit Amlashole in West Midnapore, which was in news in 2004 due to starvation deaths.

Since the Trinamool Government came to power, a lot has changed in these villages like Amlashole, the existence of which was ignored earlier. During Left Front rule, this village made international headlines for starvation deaths; now, two-and-a-half-years after regime change in the state, that spectre has changed – the villagers get rice through the public distribution system at Rs 2 per kg, the village has roads and drinking water facilities have reached the people.

The Bengal Chief Minister chose this village to spread the light of development. The main purpose of her visit to the village was to launch the `all weather rural road network`, where 1 km road was being constructed in all the 3349 gram panchayats across the state.

The Chief Minister, on her way to Amlashole, got down from her cavalcade and interacted with the local people, inquired about their problems, and walked to the village.

While addressing the people gathered at Amlashole, she reminded the people of her earlier visit and said that she was aware of their plight. She asked the members of the local administration to form plans for developing the area with immediate effect.

Excerpts from the Chief Minister`s speech today:

I welcome all who are present today. I have not come here to hold any meeting. I came here to see the area and hand over some government benefits and services to the people present.

Today we are constructing 16,000 kilometers of village roads across the state. One road is being constructed here. This will be a concrete road and will connect the village with Purulia as well as the state of Jharkhand. Students in this place need to travel a lot for going to school.  We will set up a Madhyamik-level school in this region.

The area you live in is a beautiful place. The area boasts of jungles, hills, waterfalls; there are has huge tourism potential. A huge population in this region is poor. I have visited Amlashole in past. At that time people were dying of hunger. I am happy that the Amlashole that was in the news for deaths because of hunger can now avail rice at Rs 2 per kilo. We have given the people of this region food security. We need to do a lot of work in the sectors of health, education and employment generation. There is shortage of drinking water. We are setting up a proper system for water supply.

71% of the people here belong to Scheduled Tribes. A number of families in these areas have already completed 85-95 days of work in the 100 days` work scheme. We are willing to give them 200 days` work. It is necessary for the people, so that they can be self-sufficient and fend for themselves.

I am instructing all the government officials in these areas, from the District Magistrate to the BDOs, to visit the villages repeatedly and conduct surveys regarding welfare schemes. Every aid meant for the people should be provided immediately. I want the people of Amlashole, Kankrajhore, Binpur, Banspahari or Belpahari to be well-off; the flood of development should reach these places.

Today we have launched the construction of 16000 kilometers of rural at 3349 Gram Panchayats across the state. Work of constructing 1 km road in every Gram Panchayat has started today. In future, with the help of PMGSY, there will be roads connecting farmlands and crop markets. We have selected the places located in the interiors of the districts for this, because they have been neglected for years.

Jungles are our environmental wealth. Let there be no bloodsheds in these places. These should not be any disturbance here. Let people live well.  Peace will bring prosperity for all. We have to cautious and not let some hardliners take advantage of poverty and sow seeds of violence in this area because if there is peace, your children will be safe. This region has always been violence-prone. Today is the anniversary of the tragic massacre at Netai. I never forget these dates.

I request all of you to make the Kanyashree project successful. Do not marry off your daughters before the age of 18. Let them study and be self-sufficient. I request my brothers to help our sisters and help them move forward. We have also included Ol Chiki language as the medium of examination for Government jobs.

The residents understand best, what is required in their area. We will see through your eyes, listen through your ears, feel through your heart and then do the work. Compile all your needs, submit a plan, and I will ensure the work gets done. The ADM will be sending plans of development for these areas within 15 days.

I wish you all to be well. People from these areas who once lived under abject poverty, dissociated from mainstream, will one day show the way to the world. I wish you all to be in good health and spirits.

West Bengal is all set to witness a unique movement – a brainchild of the Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee. `Didi`, as we all know her, has conceived a novel idea for developing village roads. Today, roads will be created in 35,000 villages across the state simultaneously.  The Chief Minister herself will participate in this grand exercise by laying the foundation of a road in Amlashole, assisted by the locals.

During Left Front rule, Amlashole made international headlines for starvation deaths; now, two-and-a-half-years after regime change in the state, the spectre has changed – the villagers get rice through the public distribution system at Rs 2 per kg, the village has got roads, and drinking water facilities have reached the people.

Last month, Chief Minister had announced that her government was undertaking a unique initiative to develop rural connectivity, especially the farm-road network in all the 3349 Gram Panchayats of the State.

The Chief Minister has instructed all the 43 Ministers of the state cabinet, all the secretaries, government officials and Zilla Sabhadhipatis to come out of their comfort zones and visit villages more often. MPs and MLAs of Trinamool Congress have also been asked to participate in this endeavour.

Who will be where:

Ms. Mamata Banerjee:        Amlashole, West Midnapore
Dr Amit Mitra:                        Bilkanda-1, Barrackpore 2 Block, North 24 Parganas
Subrata Mukherjee:            Sagar, South 24 Parganas
Partha Chatterjee:               Aamtala, South 24 Parganas
Jyotipriya Mullick:               Ichapur Nilganj, North 34 Parganas
Madan Mitra:                         Bilkanda-1, North 24 Parganas
Rajib Banerjee:                    Jagadishpur, Howrah
Shankar Chakraborty:       Hili, Dakshin Dinajpur
Moloy Ghtak:                        Baraboni, Bardhaman
Ujjwal Biswas:                     Dhubulia -2, North 24 Parganas
Chandrima Bhattacharya: Bilkanda-2, North 24 Parganas
Purnendu Bose:                  Rajarhat, North 24 Parganas
Aroop Roy:                           Shyampur, Howrah
Rachpal Singh:                    Tarakeshwar, Hooghly

Never before in the history of this country has such an initiative been taken.Two messages by the Chief Minister are clear from this initiative. Firstly, she means business when she talks about bring pace into the development work and letting go of laggardness. Secondly, she wants to create a bridge between the administration and the common people.

West Bengal Government is going to organise fairs in several districts for the welfare of the labourers.

State labour minister, Mr Purnendu Bose, said the state government is organising such fairs for the first time; these fairs will be helpful in creating awareness about the government-run schemes for the labourers.

The fairs will start from the middle of January. Initially fairs will be organised in some sub-divisional towns and later those will be organised at block level. Venues of some fairs are Coochbehar, Durgapur, Malda, Barasat and Kakdwip.

Apart from the stalls of the labour welfare department, stalls of other departments will also be set up.

Mr Bose said labourers from 60 professional fields could join this fair and get welfare benefit. The fair will be helpful to know the amount of fund and other benefits under several schemes of provident funds, health insurance, pension and travel. Mr Bose said labour welfare board is expecting a large number of transport and construction workers could join this fair.

The state labour welfare board will also start camps from tomorrow to handover the benefits for transport and construction workers. A bus will be launched for this purpose, which will run tomorrow from Writers` Buildings to several places.

Earlier the state government used to organise awareness camps for 15 days in January to distribute labour welfare schemes; the period for the same has been extended to one month this year.

After creating history through the creation of an administrative calendar – the first government in India to do so – the West Bengal Government has now decided to set up a `Krishi calendar` (agricultural calendar). While the administrative calendar sets targets for the 61 departments of the WB Govt and is aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in government work, the Krishi calendar will help in boosting agricultural production in the state and also augment the process of agricultural marketing.

This visionary plan, a brainchild of Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee, will be a path-breaking step never seen before in India. Officials in the department of Agriculture have said, the document will be prepared within the next two months. The calendar will have information on all types of agricultural products, although the focus will be on paddy and potato production.

The calendar will contain information like the time of production of a certain crop, and also the districts where is it primarily grown. The document will also contain suggestions on the use of fertilisers and insecticides to optimise production. The calendar will also aid farmers in earning the maximum possible returns for their crops, and will assist them in selling their crops. The calendar will act as a bridge between farmers and officials of the agriculture department at block level.

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

কলকাতা ও আশপাশের ৪০টি শহরের ২৪ ঘণ্টার নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করতে এমনই হাইটেক নজরদারি ব্যবস্থা চালু হতে চলেছে৷ ক্যামেরার নজরদারির পাশাপাশি খবর পাওয়ার ১০ মিনিটের মধ্যে যাতে পুলিশ অকুস্থলে পৌঁছয়, সেই লক্ষ্যে বৃহত্তর কলকাতার প্রতিটি থানার পরিকাঠামোও ঢেলে সাজার সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে৷ রাজ্য সরকার যে পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে এগোচ্ছে তাতে অদূর ভবিষ্যতে যে কোনও দিনই আপদে–বিপদে পুলিশকে পাশে পাওয়া যাবে বলে স্বরাষ্ট্র দন্তরের আশা৷

এ ভাবে নিরাপত্তা ব্যবস্থার হাল ফেরানোর পূর্ণাঙ্গ পরিকল্পনা তৈরির উদ্দেশ্যে একটি পেশাদার সংস্থাকে চলতি মাসেই নিয়োগ করতে চলেছে রাজ্যের স্বরাষ্ট্র দন্তর৷ গত সন্তাহে নবান্নে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সঙ্গে কেন্দ্রীয় স্বরাষ্ট্রসচিব অনিল গোস্বামীর বৈঠকে এই প্রকল্প নিয়ে বিশদ আলোচনা হয়৷ মুখ্যমন্ত্রী দ্রুত এই নজরদারি ব্যবস্থা চালু করতে আগ্রহী৷ স্বরাষ্ট্রসচিব বৈঠকেই জানিয়ে দেন এই ব্যাপারে কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের বিশেষ তহবিল থেকে পশ্চিমবঙ্গকে অর্থ সাহায্য করা হবে৷

বৃহত্তর কলকাতায় কলকাতা পুলিশ ছাড়াও হাওড়া, বিধাননগর এবং ব্যারাকপুর কমিশনারেট রয়েছে৷ এ ছাড়াও এই এলাকায় বেশ কিছু থানা এখনও রাজ্য পুলিশের অধীনে রয়েছে৷ ক্যামেরা নজরদারির জন্য স্বয়ংসম্পূর্ণ একটি পৃথক কন্ট্রোল রুম করা সম্ভব কিনা, তা খতিয়ে দেখা হচ্ছে৷' তিনি আরও জানান, এই নজরদারি ব্যবস্থার অঙ্গ হিসাবে বৃহত্তর কলকাতার সমস্ত বড় এবং মাঝারি রাস্তায় ক্যামেরা বসানো হবে৷

স্বরাষ্ট্র সচিব জানান, নতুন যে ক্যামেরাগুলি বসবে সেগুলিতে বিশেষ সফটওয়্যারের ব্যবস্থা থাকবে, যা থেকে পুলিশ সন্দেহজনক যানবাহন কিংবা ব্যক্তিকে চিহ্নিত করতে পারবে৷ কোনও ব্যক্তি একই এলাকায় উদ্দেশ্যহীন ভাবে ঘোরাফেরা করলে কিংবা একই গাড়িকে শহরের নানাপ্রান্তে দেখা গেলে ক্যামেরা ছবির সঙ্গেই বিশেষ সংকেত পাঠাবে কন্ট্রোলরুমে৷

ইতিমধ্যে রাজধানীর পুলিশ নজরদারি ক্যামেরা নিয়ে লাগাতার প্রচার শুরু করেছে৷ শহরের সর্বত্র তারা পোস্টার সেঁটে নাগরিকদের স্মরণ করিয়ে দিচ্ছে যে তাদের উপর সর্বক্ষণ নজর রাখছে ক্যামেরা৷

পুলিশ সূত্রের খবর, কলকাতা পুলিশের ৬৫টি থানা এলাকায় বর্তমানে পুলিশের মাত্র ৪৫০টি নজরদারি ক্যামেরা আছে৷ বিধাননগর, হাওড়া এবং ব্যারাকপুর কমিশনারেটের থানা এলাকায় এই ধরনের ক্যামেরা আছে হাতেগোনা কয়েকটি৷ সরকার যে পরিকল্পনা নিয়ে এগোচ্ছে তাতে বৃহত্তর কলকাতায় কয়েক হাজার ক্যামেরা বসবে৷ বৃহত্তর কলকাতায় আয়তন ১৮৫০.৪১ বর্গ কিলোমিটার৷ জনসংখ্যা পৌনে দু'কোটি৷ কলকাতা ছাড়াও বৃহত্তর কলকাতায় হাওড়া এবং চন্দননগর মিউনিসিপ্যাল কর্পোরেশন হয়েছে৷ মূল কলকাতায় বড় ও মাঝারি রাস্তার দৈর্ঘ্য ৩০৮ কিলোমিটার৷ হাওড়ায় এই ধরনের রাস্তার দৈর্ঘ্য প্রায় ৫০ কিলোমিটার৷

Last month, the Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms. Mamata Banerjee had announced that her government was undertaking a unique initiative to develop rural connectivity, especially the farm-road network; the project was slated to be launched on 7th January, 2014 simultaneously in all the 3349 Gram Panchayats of the State in a pulse mode.

This grand initiative will be flagged off by the Chief Minister at Amlashole in West Midnapore. During Left Front rule, this village made international headlines for starvation deaths; now, two-and-a-half-years after regime change in the state, that spectre has changed – the villagers get rice through the public distribution system at Rs 2 per kg, the village has roads and drinking water facilities have reached the people.

A lot has changed in these villages like Amlashole, the existences of which were ignored earlier. In the areas like Lalgarh, Amlashole, Bagmundi, Nayagram and Ayodhya Hills – which were infamous for Maoist terror – peace has been restored at long last.

On January 7, Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee will interact with the inhabitants of Amlasole, and unveil a slew of development initiatives for the hapless residents.

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সেটা ছিল অনাহারের আমলাশোল। আজকের আমলাশোল অনেকটাই `বদলে যাওয়া`।

সেই আমলাশোলে রাস্তা ছিল না। স্বাস্থ্য পরিষেবা ছিল না। রেশন ছিল না। খাবার ছিল না। ছিল না পানীয় জল। আজকের আমলাশোলে রাস্তা হয়েছে। স্বাস্থ্য পরিষেবা পাচ্ছেন সেখানকার মানুষ। পানীয় জলের বন্দোবস্ত হয়েছে। অপুষ্টি–অনাহারের সমস্যাও মিটেছে। `বদলে যাওয়া` এ হেন আমলাশোলেই দশ বছর পরে পা রাখছেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। ২০০৪ সালে এসেছিলেন বিরোধী নেত্রী হিসাবে। অনাহার–ক্লিষ্ট আর্ত মানুষগুলির পাশে দাঁড়াতে। ২০১৪–য় আসছেন রাজ্যের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হিসাবে। কাল, মঙ্গলবার তিনি আকাশপথে আমলাশোলে আসবেন স্থানীয় মানুষের জন্য রাজ্য সরকারের তরফে একগুচ্ছ উন্নয়নমূলক পরিষেবার ডালি সঙ্গে নিয়ে।

বস্তুত, পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুরের বেলপাহাড়ি ব্লকের আমলাশোলে এই প্রথম কোনও মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আসছেন। আমলাশোলকে মডেল গ্রাম–সহ বেশ কিছু ঘোষণা করতে পারেন মমতা। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর এই কর্মসূচিটি মূলত সরকারি পরিষেবা প্রদান অনুষ্ঠানের নামে `জনসংযোগ কর্মসূচি`ও বটে।

অপেক্ষায় আমলাশোলও। অনাহার–পর্বের পর থেকে সরকারি আধিকারিক, রাজনৈতিক নেতা বা মন্ত্রীদের আনাগোনা দেখতে অভ্যন্ত আমলাশোলের মানুষ এখনও বিশ্বাস করে উঠতে পারছেন না যে, মুখ্যমন্ত্রী তাঁদের গ্রামে আসছেন!

All India Trinamool Yuva organized a rally from Golpark to Hazra to protest against the combined efforts of Left parties and Congress to malign the state government; the occasion was also used to highlight the achievements of the West Bengal government. National President of All India Trinamool Yuva Abhishek Banerjee led the rally. Senior party leaders like party Secretary General Partha Chattopadhyay, State President Subrata Bakshi , Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Derek O`Brien, Chief Government Whip at WBLA Sovandeb Chatterjee, Jadavpur MLA and Power Minister Manish Gupta took part in the 3.1-km rally.

Abhishek Banerjee denounces the Left

Thousands of Trinamool workers joined the rally, carrying posters and banners denouncing the opposition parties for `trying to halt development of the state`.

Trinamool Yuva National President Abhishek Banerjee said those indulging in `dirty politics` in the Madhyamgram incident were “shameless people”. Referring to the 34-year rule of the Left Front in the state, he said: “Then, they used to do politics with people who are alive. But now, they find people are not supporting them. So they are resorting to politics of dead bodies.” He said the Left Front, which had ruled for 34 years had indulged in rapes and corruption. “This is not the culture of AITMC”, he said, while blaming a section of media for `joining the conspiracy`. He said, `with the honesty and integrity our Chief Minister works, we are all set to stay in power for several terms and in the near future we will take over Delhi`.

Mission Delhi ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Party State President Subrata Bakshi, hinted at the formation of Third Front, and said that in the last 15 years no single party has formed government at the Centre with absolute majority.

“There is no such possibility for another 10 years as well. All regional parties should unite. A vast majority is looking at Mamata Banerjee as the future Prime Minister,” he said.

“Leaders of opposition parties know they`ll disappear from the scene if the Trinamool can continue with its agenda of progress and development for some more time. So they are hatching conspiracies to give the government a bad name,” said Sovandeb Chatterjee. “When small incidents happen, they can be tackled well. But doing politics over dead body is not the politics the state needs,” he added.

Thanking Trinamool Yuva for inviting him to the rally, party Chief Whip in the Rajya Sabha later tweeted, “Happy Trinamool Yuva invited me to walk/join their rally to showcase achievements of Bengal govt Lots of josh from young minds. Five hours at street corner meetings sometimes gives you better feedback than five weeks on Twitter.”