West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on a visit to Hooghly district today, flagged off Sabuj Sathi scheme for the district.
She addressed a public meeting at Arambagh, where she inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for a bouquet of projects including the renovated and modernised fifth unit of Bandel Thermal Power Plant.
The projects WB CM inaugurated today include road projects, water supply projects, several health care projects, new buses for the districts, Pather Sathi motels, bridges, hostels for boys and girls.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for road and irrigation projects, renovation of administrative buildings, minority hostels, godowns among other things.
The CM also distributed several services including Kanyashree, Yuvashree, Sikshashree, equipment to fishermen, Kisan and artisan credit cards, different agricultural machineries and equipment, pattas, financial assistance for natural disasters and a host of other such services.
Highlights of WB CM’s speech:
• Singur, in Hooghly district showed the way to the country. It was followed by Nandigram and Netai movements.
• I am proud to say I sat on 26-day anshan during the Singur movement. We have always protected the rights of farmers.
• We have been able to provide govt services and benefits to 71% residents in Hooghly district.
• The fifth unit of Bandel Thermal Power Plant has been inaugurated today. It is a new feather in Hooghly’s cap.
• By the next fiscal year every household in Hooghly district will be electrified.
• Earlier people said “Loadshedding er sarkar aar nai dorkar”. Now they say “tomar (loadshedding) dekha nai”.
• Bengal now has a power bank. We dedicate our achievements to Maa, Mati, Manush of Bengal.
• Earlier only foundation stones were laid, which would wither away. Now all promises are fulfilled.
• Two new ITIs are coming up in Hooghly district. A new polytechnic college is also coming up.
• We are giving healthcare for free at govt hospitals, from medicines to beds. It is our responsibility to work for the poor.
• We have ensured guarantee of healthcare for people. Two multi super speciality hospitals are coming up in Hooghly district.
• Six fair price medicine shops have come up in Hooghly district that provide up to 70% discount on prices of medicines.
• A new dialysis unit, CT Scan, Digital X Ray units have come up at Hooghly Sadar Hospital.
• We have set up several fair price diagnostic centres. Dialysis is performed for only Rs 500 at these centres.
• We have set up 36 new Critical Care Units in the State.
• We want people to lead their lives satisfactorily. Honoured to work for people. All developmental works are dedicated to people.
• Over 3 lakh people have called Kisan Credit Cards. Krishak Bazaars are coming up across the State.
• Those who did not work for farmers for 34 years are shedding crocodile tears for them now.
• Centre has not given a penny to Bengal after the massive floods.
• Chennai got central funds for floods within a week. Bengal is still waiting for funds. Are lives in Bengal less precious?
• We are procuring paddy at fair price. We are setting up 176 Krishak Bazaars to protect the rights of farmers.
• 45 new colleges have up in the last 4 years. Till 2011 there were only 31 govt colleges in the State.
• A major share of revenues are taken away by Centre for repaying the debt incurred by Left Front Govt.
• We increased our revenue to Rs 40000 Cr. But Centre takes away Rs 28000 Cr for repaying CPM’s debts. Where will we get funds?
• We have ensured state govt employees and teachers get their salaries on the first day of every month.
• When I was Railway Minister I allotted two railway factories at Dankuni.
• We are allotting funds for bettering the infrastructure at Jairambati and Kamarpukur. They are heritage places.
• We will set up a tourist shelter at Furfura Sharif.
• I attend Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Chhat Puja, Jagadhatri Puja as well as Eid and Christmas.
• Prafulla Da (Prafulla Sen, former WB CM) cared for me a lot. He was known as Arambagh’s Gandhi.
• 3 out of top 4 districts in India under Swachh Bharat are from Bengal. Hooghly is among them.
• Some people only advertise and talk about Swachh Bharat. Bengal leads the way through action.
• The Centre is not giving funds for schemes like ICDS, Sarva Siksha Mission etc.
• If Centre did not take away Rs 28000 Cr from our treasury, we could have done much more for people.
• We have introduced 17% reservation for OBCs without affecting General category by developing infrastructure.
• A new road parallel to NH 34 will come up. State Govt is paying for this project worth Rs 3000 Cr.
• Several bridges are coming up in this district that will benefit people of Hooghly as well as adjoining districts.
• A new Pather Sathi motel has come up in this district. We have undertaken several water supply projects in Hooghly district.
• We are developing eco tourism at Sabuj Dweep modeled after Eco Park in Kolkata.
• We are giving benefits to folk artists under Lok Prasar Prokolpo.
• The good work we are doing is not publicized. Few media houses and Opposition are spreading canards against our government.
• A true government of the people views public purpose more importantly than political purpose.
• Sabuj Sathi scheme is my dream. 40 lakh students studying in classes 9-12 will get cycles.
• Our Govt will distribute test papers for Madhyamik for free to students. We want everyone to learn and prosper.
• The students and youth will take Bengal forward. They are our assets, they are our future.
• Maa, Mother, Ammi are all one and the same. There cannot be any discrimination between mothers.
• Land where Ramakrishna, Sarada Maa, Vivekananda, Rabindranath, Nazrul, Khudiram, Matangini belong to is holy land, purer than gold.
• You could not do anything for 34 years. We are working for people, do not pose any hurdles.
