Month: February 2015

Bengal Bypolls: TMC victorious in Bongaon and Krishnaganj

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Trinamool Congress on Monday won the bypoll in Krishnaganj Assembly seat by a margin of over 37,000 votes and took a massive lead in Bongaon Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal.

TMC candidate Satyajit Biswas, who secured 95,397 votes, won the Krishnaganj seat by a margin of 36,960 votes.

In Bongaon (SC) Lok Sabha seat, TMC candidate Mamatabala Thakur won the election by a margin of over 2 lakh votes.

A voter turnout of 79.80 and 81.80 per cent respectively was recorded on February 13 in the by-elections to Bongaon Lok Sabha seat and Krishnaganj Assembly seat.

The Bongaon LS seat fell vacant after the death of Trinamool Congress member Kapil Krishna Thakur on October 13 last year. In the Krishnaganj seat, the election was being held due to the death of the sitting TMC MLA Sushil Biswas on October 21 last year.

Partha Chatterjee, Secretary General of AITC, addressed the press after the results. Here are some of the excerpts from the press meet:

  • We thank the people of Bongaon and Krishnaganj. People have the final say in a democracy.
  • People have reposed their faith on Mamata Banerjee despite the slander campaign by Opposition.
  • Trinamool has not only won but emerged victorious by a huge margin.
  • People have given the mandate in favour of the developmental agenda of Mamata Banerjee.
  • Let them try to bloom water lilies first then they can dream about lotus blooming.
  • Quality of life of people has improved. People have witnessed development. That is why they showered us with blessings.
  • Slander campaign and propaganda will not work. Development speaks. We will continue to work for people.
  • We dedicate the victory to Maa, Mati, Manush. I congratulate and thank TMC workers.

WB CM inaugurates a number of projects at Purulia

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee  addressed a public meeting at Lodhurka in Hura, at Purulia. She inaugurated and laid foundation stones for a number of developmental projects.

The Chief Minister  inaugurated a number of youth hostels, Krishak bazaars, skill development training centers, eco tourism projects, hostels for girl students and new roads among others.

The Chief Minister  laid foundation stone for the widening project of a road that connects Bankura and Purulia.

The Chief Minister  distributed several scholarships, loans and grants like Kanyashree, Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griho, Bonpatta, Artisan Credit Card etc.

Inclusive growth – Bengal leads the way

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‘Growth for all’ is the mantra of the WB Government under CM Ms Mamata Banerjee.  The State’s economy has seen a turnaround in the last 3 years.

While the State’s GSDP has been growing at a much higher pace than the national GDP and the state revenues have grown historically by more than 85% in just 3 years, it is also the backward class which has perceived the growth. It is only when the backward class, economically and socially challenged sections are given the benefits of the growth, development becomes inclusive and holistic.

Development of the backward class and the socially challenged class has received a huge boost under the government led by Mamata Banerjee, as shown in the charts below:

Planned Expenditure:

The planned expenditure has grown from Rs 391.85 crore to Rs 610.85 crore, in the last 3 years under Trinamool’s rule compared to the last 3 years of Left regime.

 

backward class development 1

 

Building of Hostels:

The annual average of building hostels from State Fund for backward class in the last 3 years has increased to 183 from 117.5 (during the last 3 years of CPM rule).

While on an annual average 5 hostels were built from central grants from 2009-10 to 2011-12, the average was 12.3 hostels in the last 3 years. The annual average expenditure grew by 73% from Rs 57.2 crore (2009-10 to 2011-12) to Rs 99.97 crore (2011-12 to 2013-14).

 

backward class development 2

 

backward class dev 3

 

Scholarship and Caste Certificate:

In the last 3 years Trinamool Government has given scholarships to more than 31.45 lakh students compared to 8.92 lakh in the last 2 years of Left Front.

In terms of empowering backward classes with distributing the caste certificate West Bengal under TMC has outperformed Left’s regime. Caste certificates were given to 23.22 lakh people in the last 3 years compared to 7.56 lakh in the last 2 years of Left rule.

 

backward class dev 4

 

Distribution of Cycle:

In the last 3 years WB government under TMC has distributedcycles  to more than 1.15 lakh students with an average of 38,861 cycles per year, while in the last year of Left rule the number was only 9,418 cycles.

 

 

backward class dev 5 new edited

Let us keep politics out of governance: Derek O’Brien

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Statement by Derek O’Brien, National Spokesperson and Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha:

West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim had a cordial, purposive meeting with the Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu. Many specific projects of Bengal were discussed. Funding timelines were also discussed.

However, little disappointed that Mr Naidu took political potshots at State Government before leaving Kolkata.

Please, let us keep politics out of governance.

Organisational changes in Trinamool Congress

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee presided over a meeting of Presidents of various district committees, heads of frontal organisations and senior leaders at her Kalighat office today.

Keeping in mind the growing national importance of the party several organisational changes were made in the meeting.

Party Secretary General Partha Chatterjee addressed the press after the meeting to make the following announcements:

  • Trinamool has appointed Subrata Bakshi as All India General Secretary.
  • Derek O’Brien, Firhad Hakim and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar have been elevated to a new body which will function as the National Secretariat of the party.
  • Subrata Mukherjee has been given the charge of Tripura. Suvendu Adhikari will oversee organisational activities in Assam. Derek O’Brien will oversee the party’s organisation in North Eastern states and Kerala.
  • Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as one of the new Vice Presidents of the party.
  • Derek O’Brien and Kalyan Banerjee will keep in touch with like-minded parties and oversee functions in Parliament.
  • Municipal elections were discussed today. We have formed committees for the same.
  • We started the membership drive on January 1, 2015. Scrutiny committees will operate at district and State level.
  • There will be no membership fees for family of martyrs. People can become primary members of the party by paying a fee of Re 1.
  • One can also become a Associate or active member of the party by paying Rs 50000, which will be renewable every 5 years.
  • All applications for membership will be submitted to District Scrutiny Committees, who in turn will forward them to State Scrutiny Committee for final approval.
  • District Committees have been asked to prepare list of candidates for upcoming municipal polls, which will be submitted to State Committee. Mamata Banerjee will give final approval for the the candidate list.

Green Energy for the City Lights

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In a constant effort to serve the public in the best possible way, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation takes another innovative step. As part of its multi-faceted, eco-friendly initiative, KMC has launched the country’s first ‘battery less, carbon neutral Solar Street Lights at one of the city’s favourite public place, the Deshapriya Park.

In the august presence of Sri Manish Gupta, Hon’ble MIC Power & Non-conventional Energy and other eminent personalities, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee inaugurated the path breaking project on 12th February, 2015.

Fifty solar electric posts have been set up at Deshapriya Park each of which will have an 180-watt LED based panel that is equivalent of 400 watts of sodium vapour electricity.

The solar panels will help generate electricity throughout the day and the generated power will be put into the grid. The LEDs will be lighted up with the generated power in the night. An automatic control system has been put in place and the lights will be switched on automatically after evening. It will be a carbon-neutral lighting. This project has been made with an estimated cost of Rs 40 lakh and is expected to bring down electricity bills for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Fair price for paddy – Bengal shows the way

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The West Bengal Government has fixed the selling price for paddy at the fair price of Rs 1360/quintal for the paddy farmers.

The farmers will obtain this price for their crop in all the Kisan Mandis, areas surrounding rice mills, any areas decided by the respective related government officials or areas selected by the CMR agencies.

In this manner not only will the farmers get the proper price for their crop, devoid of any cut monies they had to pay to the middlemen, but also get their payments on time in a transparent manner.

The Government has decided to pay Rs 15/quintal extra above the fixed price to the farmers who may sell their produces at the Kisan Mandis. The payment to the farmers will be made by cheques.

The State government is setting up 341 mandis, one in each block, many of which are now operational. The mandis will have storage facilities. Also 50 warehouses for seeds are also under construction.

The State Government has also chalked out plans to introduce a “crop insurance scheme” for commercial crops. This scheme is aimed at helping the farmers recover their crop loss due floods and other natural disasters.

Peaceful polling in the Bengal bypolls

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Bypolls for Bongaon Parliamentary Constituency and Krishnaganj Assembly Constituency were held today at Bongaon and Krishnaganj. The poll lasted from 8 AM to 5 PM today. The Bongaon seat had fallen vacant due to the death of Kapil Krishna Thakur and Krishnaganj seat was vacant due to the demise of Sushil Biswas.

 

The Trinamool candidates for the constituencies were:

Bongaon – Mamatabala Thakur

Krishnaganj – Satyajit Biswas

The polling percentage in the four constituencies till 5 p.m. was as follows:

Bongaon – 73%

Krishnaganj – 78%

AITC Secretary General Partha Chatterjee met the press after the polling. He said:

We thank the voters of Krishnaganj and Bongaon for their enthusiasm: Partha Chatterjee addressing a press conference. Despite the smear campaign and propaganda by the Opposition, today’s polls were peaceful. Opposition has realised that people have reposed their faith on Mamata Banerjee’s developmental agenda. Opposition has comprehended TMC will win. So they are making false claims now. People will support Mamata Banerjee’s agenda of development, peace and prosperity. 78% turnout in Krishnaganj and 73% polling in Bongaon so far. We congratulate people. We thank the voters of Bongaon and Krishnaganj.

How to obtain a Micro Business Credit Card

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The West Bengal Government has successfully launched a Micro Business Credit Card, the first of its kind in India, to facilitate small and medium business entrepreneurs of the State.

Entrepreneurs will now be able to avail cash credit or loan up to Rs 5 lakh for their business activities, even without collateral security. The State Bank of India has extended support to the Government of West Bengal in this venture.

A fund of Rs 200 crore has been set up for facilitation in Bardhaman, Durgapur, Asansol and other places to speed up the clearance process for the business credit cards.

For details on how to apply for the Micro Business Credit Card click here

WB CM inaugurates Bangla Sangeet Mela

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee  inaugurate the annual ‘Bangla Sangeet Mela’ today at Nazrul Mancha. She holds highest regards for artists and their art. She has announced several awards to felicitate artists connected to various form of art from time to time. Keeping with the practice, she also gave away ‘Sangeet Samman’ and ‘Sangeet Maha Samman’.

Various singers will perform at different venues across the city namely Rabindra Sadan, Sisir Mancha, Deshapriya Park, Princep Memorial, Phanibhushan Vidyavinod Jatra Mancha, Hedua Park, Madhusudan Mancha, Rabindra Tirtha between 13 to 19 February 2015.

An exhibition paying tribute to Sachin Dev Burman, Kishore Kumar and Rahul Dev Burman will also be held during this time at Gaganendra Pradarsasala.

The closing ceremony of Bangla Sangeet Mela will be held on 19 February 2015 at Rabindra Sadan with a whole night of musical function. The event is being organised by Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal.

Highlights of her speech from today: 

  • We will give away Sangeet Samman and Sangeet Maha Samman today. Sangeet Mela will continue for 7 days
  • We will honour people associated with music from all over the world
  • We gave the first Sangeet Samman to Manna Dey, Sandhya Mukherjee and Dwijen da
  • I went to Bangalore personally to honour Manna Dey. He said he was touched to have been honoured by Bengal
  • Those who are being honoured today are matchless. They have their own identity
  • We are paying tributes to Rahul Dev Barman this year
  • We should prepare a handbook of all the artists who have performed in various art forms – be it music or films
  • The handbook of the artists will be released on Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
  • Kolkata is the cultural capital of the world
  • Let music bring us all together. We are honoured to have been able to honour those who are present here
  • We have artists from Darjeeling, jhumur artists here today. My best wishes to all

 

List of recipients:

Sangeet Mahasamman:

Kabir Suman
Bickram Ghosh
Tanmoy Ghosh
Swapan Gupta
Pramita Mullick

 

Jatiyo Sangeet Samman:

Anjali Mahata
Swapan Basu
Shibaji Chattopadhay
Pratap Ray
Dhritiman
Santanu Roy Chowdhury
Chironjee Sherpa
Kalikaprosad
Sraboni Sen
Antora Chowdhury
Saikat Mitra
Swapna Chakrobarty
Proikrit
Gautam Ghosh
Anupam Roy