Month: January 2019

The ninth edition of the summit, Destination East will be held from January 12 at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. It will continue till January 19. The State Tourism Department is organising the summit in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The intention behind holding these annual summits is to attract more foreign tourists to Bangla and at the same time, position the State among the top in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) tourism.

Kolkata has enormous potential to emerge as a MICE destination. There are at present 3,860 hotel rooms in the city with all modern facilities; another 1,700 rooms will be coming up in the next five years. Then, there is the state-of-the-art convention centre in the form of Biswa Bangla Convention Centre at New Town. Another premier convention destination is being developed at Milan Mela, opposite Science City.

This year’s Destination East will have 110 international buyers from 42 countries, with 65 per cent of the representatives from North American and European countries. Last year, there was representation from 30 countries.

According to senior officials of the Tourism Department, the government is taking all possible measures to promote the State as an all-season destination, including focusing on the development of heritage tourism and homestays.

The department is developing an app where the best among the homestays will find a place, for determining which they will soon be graded. Before the grading starts, the State Government, in coordination with the CII Tourism sub-committee, will be giving training to homestay owners to make them familiar with the nitty-gritty that tourists seek during their stay, so that they take measures accordingly.

Based on the suggestions of the international tour operators at the summit, the necessary steps will be taken for giving tourism a further boost, said a senior official of the department.

Source: Millennium Post

Bangla has once again been acknowledged as a number one by the Central Government – for fighting malaria effectively.

The additional director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) recently showered profuse praise on the Bangla Government and its malaria control programme.

The State has been able to reduce malarial deaths by about 85 percent in 2018, compared to 2017, and in the last four years (2015 to 2018), by about 88 per cent.

The numbers of deaths are as follows: 2015 – 34 deaths; 2016 – 59 deaths; 2017 – 26 deaths; 2018 – 4 deaths.

Therefore, as can be seen, the number of deaths ahs massively reduced. The State Government is trying its best to ensure that the number is soon reduced to zero.

While giving these numbers at the summit, the additional director of NVBDCP also said that Bangla is the State that has most effectively implemented the ‘T-3’ formula for countering malaria – ‘Test, Treat, Track’.

Malaria can be effectively treated if it is detected within 24 to 48 hours; and the process of ‘Test, Treat, Track’ has to be continued all through the year.

Source: Ei Samay

This year, at the Republic Day parade on January 26 in New Delhi, the theme of the tableau to be sent by the Bangla Government would be ‘Gandhi Ji in Santiniketan and Beliaghata’. The whole concept has been conceived by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Responding to the invitation of Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi had come to Santiniketan in 1915, and stayed at the house named Shyamali. On August 13, 1947 in an effort to quell communal riots in Kolkata, Gandhi ji had started a 72-hour fast. He stayed at Hyderi Manzil while undertaking the fast. On the day of independence, August 15, Gandhi Ji was on fast in Kolkata.

The tableau will have a fibreglass model of Shyamali and various other models. Ten artistes would enact the characters of Mahatma Gandhi and others on the tableau as it would roil along on Janpath.

It may be mentioned that the State’s tableaus have had a successful run during the rule of the Trinamool Congress. Bangla again started sending tableaus for the Republic Day parades from 2012, after a gap of 13 years when the Left Front Government had decided not to send them.

In 2012, the theme was ‘Basantotsav’, as held in Santiniketan; in 2013, it was the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. In 2014, it was chhau dance of Purulia, in 2016, it was the baul artistes of Bangla, and 2017, it was ‘Sharodotsav’. Both in 2014 and 2016, the tableaus won first prize.

Controversially, in 2015, the Centre did not allow the State’s internationally-feted Kanyashree Scheme to be displayed as a tableau. But credit must be given to Mamata Banerjee that she has not backed off, and has continued sending prize-winning concepts for the marquee show on Republic Day.

Source: Bartaman

The Bangla Fish Fest 2019 is going to be inaugurated today at Nalban Food Park in Salt Lake. It will continue till January 13.

On January 11, the fish extravaganza will be held from 4 PM to 9 PM. On January 12 and 13, people can savour culinary delicacies from 12 PM to 9 PM.

On all three days, there will be cultural programmes consisting of song and dance performances in the evenings. There will also be a technical seminar, an exhibition, a culinary competition and a quiz competition.

The 23rd Jatra Utsav, organised by the Bangla Government, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today. From the same stage, she handed over benefits under various schemes to beneficiaries.

The festival was inaugurated from a purpose-built stage at Kachari Maidan in Barasat, with the lighting of lamps and the chimes of bells.

For two days, jatras would be staged on this temporary stage. Subsequently, the festival would move to Baghbazar for a month of the best that modern jatra has to offer.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

Jatra legends like Makhanlal Natta beautifully depicted the quaint life of rural Bengal in their productions.

Jatra is still famous in the rural heartland of Bengal. People watch jatra pala with fervour and excitement.

I want Jatra artistes to live with dignity. We extend financial assistance to them. We are increasing the one-time grant to Jatra artistes from Rs 9,000 to Rs 15,000.

I would urge Jatra artistes to stage more productions depicting the modern life, successful projects like Kanyashree or Sabooj Sathi.

All India Trinamool Youth Congress National President and party’s MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday said that Trinamool’s garbage is BJP’s jewel. Those who are being sent to the dustbin by us are being welcomed with open arms by them. He said no matter how hard others try, another Mamata Banerjee will not be formed in another hundred years.

Addressing a public rally at Kulgachia Maidan in Uluberia as a preparatory meeting for the mega Brigade rally of the party scheduled on January 19, Banerjee said that the Brigade rally will deliver the clarion call to oust the BJP from the Centre in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Drawing similarities between Netaji and Mamata Banerjee, he said the latter’s battle cry “Delhi Chalo” is a reminder of Subhas Bose’s slogan.

Abhishek maintained that several national leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Akhilesh Yadav, Stalin, Shatrughan Sinha, Farooq Abdullah and others will attend the rally to strengthen Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s political fight to show the exit door to the BJP and establish a secular government at the Centre.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call of Achhe Din has proved to be a far cry. The good days will come only when the government at the Centre is toppled.

Abhishek also took the opportunity to slam the BJP’s plan of Rath Yatra programme in Bengal. “In the name of Rath Yatra, they have brought a 7-star AC luxury bus from Delhi. We have heard of Rath Yatra of Shri Jagannath and Shri Krishna. But in the name of Rath, they will be riding a luxury bus. “They cannot compete with us in terms of development. We have fulfilled the promises that we made before coming to power,” he said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today came down heavily on the Centre for misleading people regarding the crop insurance scheme. Addressing a public meeting at Krishnanagar in Nadia district, she announced that the State will withdraw from the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

“The State pays the premium of crop insurance. We pay 80 per cent of the funds. This is despite the Centre taking away all our taxes in the name of debt servicing. And they (the Centre) are sending letters to every household with the PM’s photo claiming they have done it. This is shameful politics,” she said

She added, “Does the Centre take my permission for defence deals like Rafale? Do they take our permission before appointing CISF personnel? No. They even interfere in our law and order.”

She lashed out at the Centre: “They are not giving us alms out of pity. They are taking taxes from the States and giving back a certain percentage. They impose various cess and also get revenue from customs duty, which States don’t receive.”

She accused the BJP of destroying institutions and misusing agencies. They are promoting BJP at government expense, she added.

“They promised to bring back black money. Rs 15 lakh was supposed to be deposited in bank accounts. Did that happen? They are altering history, changing names. They are doing whatever they want. Let them send CBI. Mamata Banerjee is not scared,” the CM added.

She accused the Centre of cheating people in the name of reservation. Mamata Banerjee said, “When I brought reservations for minorities, I included them in OBCs, because there is a cap of 50% on reservation. They have increased the reservation to 60% now.

As it is there are no jobs. Two crore jobs were lost in a year. And now this ceiling. How will the sons and daughters of farmers, workers, labourers get jobs? Why would a person earning Rs 60,000 per month want reservation?”

0Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated a new university for women at a public meeting in Krishnanagar. The university has been named Kanyashree University, after the world-renowned scheme for empowerment of girls.

She also announced that a campus of Harichand-Guruchand University will be set up in Nadia district. The CM will lay the foundation stone of the university tomorrow at a function in Barasat.

Highlights of the Chief Minister’s speech:

• Happy New Year to all of you. My best wishes and congratulations to the winners of Jal Taranga Sports Competition.
• Girls are the future of the society. They are a combination of Lakshmi and Saraswati. My best wishes to all of you.
• Kanyashree is now best in the world. Today we have laid the foundation stone of a new women’s university. We have named it Kanyashree University.
• We have removed the income ceiling for Kanyashree eligibility. Every girl is Kanyashree now. Apart from K1 and K2, we have started K-3 – scholarship for university girls also.
• Some of you will become engineers, some doctors, some of you will become something else. You will shape the society.
• We have distributed over 1 crore Sabooj Sathi cycles for free. Every student of classes IX-XII are getting a bicycle, irrespective of discrimination.
• Tomorrow I will lay the foundation stone of Harichand-Guruchand University at a function in Barasat. It will come up at Gaighata. A campus will come up at Krishnanagar.
• Flipkart is investing in Kalyani. 10,000 direct employment opportunities will be created.
• Mayapur will be developed as a heritage city. A new bridge is coming up, which will connect Kalna and Shantipur. The project cost is Rs 1,100 crore. It will reduce your travel time.
• We have asked Delhi to develop national highways between Barasat and Krishnanagar. These are not under our jurisdiction.
• Muslin Tirtha, Tant Tirtha have come up in Nadia.
• We have achieved 100% distribution of Kisan Credit Cards in Nadia. We have abolished khajna tax and mutation fees on agricultural land.
• The State Government is paying the money for crop insurance scheme. Centre is misleading you. We are also providing loans through custom hiring centres.
• We have started a new scheme – farmers will receive Rs 5,000 for every acre annually. Small farmers will get proportional sum of money, minimum Rs 1,000.
• We have started ‘Dhan din, cheque nin’ project for procuring paddy.
• We provide healthcare for free. Beds, medicines are provided free of cost. People from other States and countries also come here for treatment.
• In the name of bandhs, the CPI(M) hurled bombs at school students. It is shameful. Despicable. Must be condemned. They destroyed Bangla for 34 years. We are paying Rs 48,000 crore for the debt incurred by them.
• AIIMS is coming up in Kalyani. We have already set up IIIT in Kalyani.
• We provide Sikshashree scholarship to SC/ST students. We have given minority scholarships to over 1.7 crore students, the highest in the country.
• Nadia is the district of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This is the district of peace and heritage. Nadia is famous of handloom and muslin. We are also setting up ‘Sara Tirtha’ here.
• Do not pay heed to communal propaganda before elections. We have to preserve the unity and harmony of the country.
• I want my Kanyashree girls to shine all over the world. Bangla will show the way to India. Bangla has the vision, which will become India’s mission.

An innovative Mythological Museum has been set up on Sagar Island, at the site where the famous Gangasagar Mela is held. This is the government’s latest gift to the countless pilgrims and tourists who visit the fair every winter. This year the fair scheduled to be held in February.

It has cost Rs 72 lakh to construct the museum – Rs 45 lakh for the museum itself and Rs 27 lakh for the fencing. The museum is located at the mid-point between the sea cost where the devotees take the dip and the Kapil Muni Temple, which they visit after the holy bath.

There is a big statue of Lord Shiva at the entrance. There is a fountain inside the premises. Inside the museum, there are artefacts related to the puranic stories centred on Gangasagar.

This museum would ensure that people visit Sagar Island all through the year, and thus make it a much more popular tourist spot.

Source: Khabar 365 Din

A slew of measures have been taken by the State Government this year for the security and convenience of the lakhs of pilgrims who will be attending the Gangasagar Mela to take the holy dip.

Among the security measures are 12 drones, 700 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, LED television screens and GPS-fitted vessels. And to keep track of all these would be a control room, located at the site of the fair, and another at the State secretariat, Nabanna. Security personnel have been provided with 12 satellite mobile phones.

Metal barricades totalling 220km have constructed along the route to Sagar Island, and in front of the Kapil Muni Temple, where the devotees congregate after taking the holy dip.

Then, there will be 40 battery-run vehicles for picking up garbage for the duration of the fair. The temporary residential structures set up on the island have been painted with fire-retardant material.

Among the other measures taken up are refurbishment of the Kapil Muni Temple, setting up of a large number high-capacity portable lights, running of more buses and vessels, and stationing of medical teams and water ambulances.

Source: Aajkaal