Month: January 2019

To satisfy people interested in keeping plants, be it indoors or on rooftops or in gardens, the government agency, New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) is going to set up an online marketplace.

Online marketplace implies that the NKDA’s online platform will act as the intermediary between the people wanting to buy plants and the nurseries willing to sell them.

To enable this, nurseries will have to send their rates to the NKDA by January 21, from which the ones quoting the best rates will be selected for selling through the online marketplace.

Not just that, the NKDA would also help people wanting to farm commercially on their rooftops or gardens. On its website, details would be provided of agencies who will maintain the gardens, including their rates, division of the final produce between the owner and the agency for selling commercially, etc.

Indoor gardening is part of NKDA’s efforts towards New Town’s maintaining the Green City certification it got from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) last year.

Jangipur in Murshidabad district is soon going to get an industrial park. The 10-acre site will be located in Jaffarabad mouza in Samareshganj block.

Officials of the State Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Textiles Department have already visited the spot and have started preparations for building the industrial park.

The zilla parishad of Murshidabad will be spending almost Rs 7.5 crore to set up the park, to be primarily spent on facilities for power, roads, sanitation and drinking water pipelines.

There is a lot of potential for food processing and plastics-based industries in the region, and hence the decision was taken to set up the industrial park. There is potential for the creation of 15,000 jobs, through direct and indirect means.

The State Self-Help Group and Self-Employment (SHG&SE) Department administers various schemes and services for the self-help groups (SHG). This plethora of services ensures a steady generation of self-employment opportunities. Women have been especially benefitted through the SHGs, empowering them through economic self-sufficiency.

Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasanasthan Prakalpa (SVSKP)

There are two types of services under this scheme: Atmasamman and Atmamaryada. Under Atmasamman, any project costing up to Rs 25 lakh, for SHGs with five or more members, will be funded. Under Atmamaryada, any project costing up to Rs 10 lakh, for individuals or jointly up to four persons, will be funded.

The age limits are 18 and 45 years. The monthly family income of the applicant has to be within Rs 15,000. The funding pattern of a project is as follows: five per cent will be own funding, 30 per cent will be government subsidy (maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh for Atmamaryada and Rs 3.5 lakh for Atmasamman), and the balance 65 per cent will be bank loan as per the current rate of interest.

West Bengal Swanirbhar Sahayak Prakalpa

Under this interest subsidy scheme for SHGs, on timely repayment of bank loan by an SHG, it will get an effective rate of interest of only two per cent per annum. The interest subsidy will be directly credited to the bank account of the SHG.

Karmatirtha

Karmatirthas are training centres-cum-sales outlets built by the SHG&SE Department at the block level and in district headquarters to promote products made by SHGs. The stalls are distributed through the Employment Bank.

Samaj Sathi

Samaj Sathi is an insurance scheme for members of SHGs. It is meant to provide them with social security under the accident insurance scheme. The insurerd are provided with smart cards. Each members of an SHG is covered up to Rs 2 lakh. Their entire premium is borne by the State Government.

Details about the above can be had from the West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited, or the block office, or the district self-help group and self-employment official, of the local supervisor of the particular scheme (‘Prakalpo Sahayak’ in Bengali).

The Science & Technology and Biotechnology Department has tied up with the State technology university, MAKAUT (formerly known as WBUT) to train owners of small businesses (MSME sector) to use the latest technology for food processing and preservation, and for agriculture too.

In this connection, it has been decided by the government to build biotechnology parks in different corners of the Bangla, in places where farming happens on a large scale.

There are many food processing businesses in the State but not all possess the latest knowledge, for example, regarding preservation of fruits and vegetables, fish, etc. the lack of adequate knowledge is also preventing exports in some cases.

Thus, the decision of the government to set up training programmes will immense help the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.

Source: Bartaman

School education has seen a lot of change, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in seven years of the Trinamool Congress Government. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Government has taken several first-of-its-kind initiatives like giving school bags, school shoes, uniforms and exercise books free of cost to students of Government schools.

Certain new types of schools like BRGF Schools and Model Schools have been started. Use of technology in classrooms is being encouraged. To inculcate self-sufficiency, schools are being encouraged to plant their own gardens for procuring the vegetables for mid-day meals.

Free school bags, school shoes and uniforms: For the first time, the Trinamool Congress Government has started providing school bags, school shoes and uniforms for free on a mass scale. In 2018, the School Education Department has supplied more than 57 lakh school bags for distribution in Classes V, VI, VII and VIII. Shoes have been provided to 50.32 lakh primary school students. All students from Classes I to VIII have received school uniforms free.

Free exercise books: For the first time, free exercise books have been distributed at the rate of three exercise books each for students of Classes V to VIII, four each for students of Classes IX and X, and five each for students of Classes XI and XII. More than 340.3 lakh exercise books have been distributed to over 97.73 lakh students till now.

Free textbooks: Textbooks are being provided free to all students from the pre-primary level to Class XII. Nearly 9.5 crore books, comprising 389 titles, are printed and distributed annually.

Free Braille textbooks: Specially designed Braille textbooks are being given to all visually challenged students.

BRGF Schools: This is again a new concept developed by the Trinamool Congress Government. With money from the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF), the government sanctioned 40 BRGF Schools from 2011 till March 2018, of which 37 are running. As a part of this, 39 school buildings were constructed.

Model Schools: This is another new concept of the Trinamool Government. From 2011 till March 2018, 67 Model Schools were sanctioned, of which 51 are running. As a part of this, 54 school buildings have been constructed.

Mid-Day Meals

Cent per cent coverage: 100 per cent of government and government-aided schools are covered under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme. At the elementary level, more than 1.2 lakh students are covered.

Self-sufficiency of schools for MDM Scheme: For achieving self-sufficiency in arranging for the food provided through MDMs, 76,248 kitchen-cum-stores were constructed and 6,025 kitchen gardens developed between financial years (FY) 2011-12 and 2017-18. This is a continuous process. Hence, more and more schools are achieving self-sufficiency in this regard.

Use of environment-friendly fuel: Till now, 37 per cent institutions are using LPG for cooking MDMs. Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose.

Special help for the backward regions: In the Jangalmahal and Sundarbans regions, a total of 969 dining halls have been constructed at a cost of Rs 29.72 crore, provided by the State Government. Another grant of Rs 13.32 crore has been sanctioned to construct 434 dining halls in the tea gardens, Jangalmahal and the Sundarbans.

Recruitment and Training

Teacher recruitment: For primary schools, 50,426 teachers have been recruited and for upper primary, secondary and HS schools, 27,572 teachers have been recruited.

Other recruitments: A total of 182 education supervisors and 200 group D staff (on a contractual basis) have been engaged across the State.

In-service teacher training: More than 7.5 lakh teachers have been provided in-service training.

Infrastructure

Drinking water and toilets: All schools have been provided with safe drinking water and toilets.

E-classrooms: To improve the standard of instructions with the help of technology, the Government is seeking to set up e-classrooms across the State. Related infrastructure has been provided in 2,000 secondary and 650 primary schools. More such classrooms are being set up.

Computers: To encourage the use of computers in schools, 5,591 secondary schools have been provided with 56,060 computers.

Recreational infrastructure: This again is a new initiative for the State Government. Recreational infrastructure like see-saws, swings, slides, among others, has been provided in 990 primary schools.

Libraries: Library grants to the tune of Rs 17.60 crore have been provided to 3,447 schools.

Laboratories: Laboratory grants to tune of Rs 68.98 crore has been provided to 4,238 schools.

Additional classrooms: In the period covering the last seven financial years, from when the Trinamool Congress Government came to power, 96,428 additional classrooms were constructed by the State Government and the construction of 95,378 additional classrooms was facilitated by the Government under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).

New buildings: In the last seven financial years, new buildings were constructed for 586 newly set up primary schools, 4,211 newly set up upper primary schools, 2,733 Shishu Shiksha Kendras (SSK) and 171 Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras (MSK).

Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGVB): From FY 2011-12 to 2017-18, a total of 51,259 students have been enrolled in KGVBs, which are residential girls’ secondary schools for the weaker sections of society.

Hostels: From FY 2011-12 to 2017-18, 92 KGBV hostels, with 8,472 students, have been made functional. Fifty-bedded girls’ hostels were approved for 139 Government-aided and Government-sponsored schools and 39 integrated BRGF Schools.

Upgrading of schools: In the last seven years (till March 2018), 575 junior high schools were upgraded to secondary schools and 1,924 secondary schools were upgraded to higher secondary schools.

Special training: Of the total enrolment of 3,59,851 out-of-school children in the last seven years, 3,21,223 have been provided with special training.

Early Grade Reading & Numeracy (EGRaN): With a view to ensuring early grade reading and numeracy skills for primary school children, a total of 52,000 primary schools have been covered by EGRaN training till April 1, 2018.

Residential school for deprived urban children: Such schools are functional since FY 2011-12. A total of 9,478 students have been enrolled, 2,507 of them in FY 2017-18.

Children with Special Needs (CWSN): For such children, computer-aided learning is being provided in 1,382 schools and aids and appliances have been provided to 93,644 students.

Allowances: Transport allowance has been provided to 2,61,950 students and escort allowance (for children with special needs) to 1,77,252 students in the last 7 financial years.

Scholarships: From FY 2016-17, Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, at the rate of Rs 12,000 per year, is being given to students who have scored at least 75 per cent marks and whose family incomes are below Rs 2.5 lakh a year. A total of 87,685 students have been given this scholarship till FY 2017-18.

 

With the Trinamool Congress Government at the helm, there has been more than a four-fold increase in Plan expenditure for the Higher Education, Science & Technology, and Biotechnology Departments, from Rs 108.7 crore in financial year (FY) 2010-11 to Rs 514.18 crore in 2017-18.

Some of the significant achievements with respect to enhancing and upgrading syllabi, inclusion of girls, rise in enrolment and gender ratios, increasing diversity with respect to languages and expansion of scholarship coverage are as follows:

Reconstitution of West Bengal State Council for Higher Education (WBSCHE): The council, which is the State’s highest body for undertaking planning and development of higher education, was constituted afresh in 2015 based on a new legislation, to significantly enhance its power and functions.

Higher education institutions (HEI): Twelve State-aided universities have been set up in the State in the last 7 years, bringing the total to 24. All the 10 private universities in the State have been established under the Trinamool Congress Government. Forty-eight colleges have been set up since 2011. The total number of higher education institutions (universities, colleges and standalone institutions) has grown from 855 in FY 2010-11 to 1,849 in the present FY.

Upcoming universities: Four more State-aided universities – Biswa Bangla Vishwavidyalaya in Bolpur, Jhargram University in Jhargram, Green University in Tarakeswar and Purba Medinipur University – and a private university, Sister Nivedita University at New Town, Kolkata — are to start operations in FY 2018-19.

Upcoming colleges: Two government-aided colleges will start operating from the current financial year – in Naxalbari and Phansidewa blocks in Siliguri subdivision of Darjeeling district.

Rise in gross enrolment ratio: Enrolment in HEIs has risen dramatically from 13.24 lakh in FY 2010-11 to 20.15 lakh in FY 2016-17. Therefore, the gross enrolment ratio has risen from 12.4 in 2010-11 to 18.5 in 2016-17.

Growth in private sector participation: The number of private universities has risen to 10 from not even a single one during the Left Front rule.

Improving quality: At present, 292 colleges and 11 universities have obtained NAAC accreditation. The rest are in the process of obtaining it. Jadavpur University has been granted Category 1 autonomy with the highest NAAC score of 3.68.

Filling gaps in human resources: About 6,000 assistant professors and about 200 principals have been recruited for the Government and Government-aided colleges. Currently, West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC) and the West Bengal College Service Commission (WBCSC) are in the midst of the next recruitment drive for the posts of principals, assistant professors and librarians.

Enhancing quality of teacher education: A university for the education of teachers has been set up. It is called ‘The West Bengal University of Teachers’ Training, Education Planning and Administration’. A uniform curriculum structure has been framed for the various teacher education programmes of the State as per NCTE regulations.

Technical education: Two government engineering colleges have been established in Purulia and Cooch Behar. As of April 2018, the total number of degree-level engineering and technology institutions is 103, of which eight are Government engineering colleges.

Employing digital tools for teaching and learning: Virtual classrooms numbering 732 have been set up in the Government and Government-aided colleges and universities. An e-learning space has been created in every State-funded HEI where free internet and Wi-Fi facilities have been made available for students and teachers during work hours.

Ensuring inclusivity, access, and equity: The State Government has initiated the K3 component of the Kanyashree Scheme under which, through the Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme, scholarships are being provided to K2-enrolled girls pursuing post-graduation studies in both science and non-science streams. In 2017, the K3 component was awarded to 3,806 girls.

Improvement in gross enrolment ratio of female students & female gender ratio: Female enrolment in higher education has increased from 5.62 lakh in FY 2010-11 to 9.53 lakh in 2016-17. The gross enrolment ratio for female candidates has risen from 10.9 in 2010-11 to 17.3 in 2016-17. Consequently, the female gender ratio with respect to enrolment in higher education has improved from 42 per cent in 2010-11 to 47.3 per cent in 2016-17.

Reservation for backward classes: The West Bengal State Higher Education Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2013 was enacted to provide a 17 per cent reservation for OBC students (apart from 22 per cent for SC and 6 per cent for ST students).

Ensuring diversity through promotion of languages: Hindi-medium general degree colleges are being set up in Banarhat (Jalpaiguri district), Asansol (Paschim Bardhaman) and Hatighisha (Darjeeling district).

Santhali and Urdu have been introduced as subjects in the State Eligibility Test (SET) conducted by the WBCSC in 2015. At the undergraduate level, Arabic is being taught in 42 colleges, Nepali in 10 colleges, Persian in three colleges (under Calcutta University), Tibetan in one college (Darjeeling Government College, under North Bengal University).

At the postgraduate level, Arabic is being taught in 10 universities, Nepali at North Bengal University and Tamil at Calcutta University. Permission has been sought to include Arabic as a subject in the SET too.

Expansion of Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme: The budget for the scheme has been increased from Rs 45 crore for FY 2015-16 to Rs 200 crore, for both 2016-17 and 2017-18. The fi­nancial support has been extended to full-time non-NET scholars pursuing MPhil and PhD, and the Kanyashree girls pursuing post-graduation under the K3 component. The total number of bene­ficiaries of the scholarship has increased from 544 in 2006-07 to 55,435 in 2017-18.

Increased focus on research and innovation: For the purpose of research, innovation and quality improvement, the Government has committed Rs 100 crore each to Calcutta University and Jadavpur University.

Updating syllabus and curriculum: The WBSCHE has completed an exercise to revise and update the syllabi for 12 science subjects at the undergraduate level, with the objective of bringing the syllabi at par with the best practices in the country.

Introduction of choice-based credit system (CBCS): The State Higher Education Department has decided to introduce CBCS wherein a student has the flexibility to choose courses from a list of elective, core and soft skill courses. As of March 2018, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, CBCS has been introduced in 17 universities, and will be introduced in the remaining universities by end FY 2018-19 (except Gour Banga University).

These measures prove that Bangla is inching towards achieving the best holistic education system in the country.

 

Bangla is one of the few States having an integrated Skills Development Policy. As part of the policy, West Bengal Skills Development Mission, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the chairperson, is providing the policy guidance. The Paschim Banga Society for Skills Development (PBSSD), with the State chief secretary as the chairperson, is the coordinating agency for skills development programmes.

Utkash Bangla: On February 16, 2016, the scheme, Utkarsh Bangla was launched as the flagship scheme for skills development in Bangla, with a target of empowering about 6 lakh youths with skills every year.

Infrastructure of polytechnic colleges:

· Twenty-eight Government polytechnics, including five in Jangalmahal, constructed and operationalised
· 1 Government-sponsored polytechnic operationalised
· 11 polytechnics under construction
· With respect to 2011, Government polytechnics increased by 74 per cent and private polytechnics by 177 per cent
· With respect to 2011, total intake capacity in Government polytechnics increased by 55 per cent and in private polytechnics by 190 per cent
· 25 girls’ hostels set up
· Language laboratories being set up in polytechnics for developing communication skills

Implementation of the latest technologies

· 2 smart classrooms being set up in each of the 66 Government polytechnics
· E-content developed for 50 subjects in diff­erent disciplines; development of e-content for the remaining 120 subjects are in the pipeline
· Safety insurance for students of Government polytechnics being worked out
· e-Yantra Project on robotics developed in collaboration with IIT Bombay;
· 10 Government polytechnics and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, successfully implementing e-Yantra
· Laboratory Set-up Initiative (eLSI) for project-based learning on embedded systems and robotics, a cutting-edge technology for enhancement of employability
· Performance of teachers and students exemplary in the national competition on robotics
· Special placement drive initiated since the last 2 years by TATA Steel at APC Ray Polytechnic, a nodal institute for the project on robotics

Industrial Training Institutes (ITI)

· 150 blocks out of the 341 blocks of the State have ITIs, up from 39 before June 1, 2011
· 262 functional ITIs, up from 81 before June 1, 2011
· Intake capacity is 71,379 trainees, up from 17,636 before June 1, 2011

Training and collaborations

· Bangla Government signed MoU with Maruti Suzuki for advanced course on automobiles at ITI Tollygunge.
· Bangla Government signed MoU with Samsung for cutting-edge training for making latest consumer electronic appliances at WITI Kolkata, ITI Kalyani, ITI Howrah Homes and WITI Bardhaman; so far, 425 candidates trained in all, and 265 are employed with Samsung
· Government, in collaboration with West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Ltd. (WEBEL), has undertaken a project named WBSWAN, which is the backbone for establishment of internet connectivity with minimum Wi-Fi and LAN at 49 Government ITIs
· Apprenticeship training for pass-out as well as fresher ITI trainees conducted. Under the new scheme, NAPS, 25 per cent of stipend of trainees reimbursed; total of 19,569 trainees enrolled under NAPS, of which 10,638 in the category of passed-out trainees

Implementation of latest technologies

· 50 per cent concession on admission form and registration fees for Kanyashree-enrolled candidates (women)
· Two classrooms at each of 42 Government polytechnics to be converted into smart classrooms soon
· ITI Durgapur to be upgraded to a Model ITI, based on the iron and steel sector
· State PWD Department upgrading infrastructure at 53 Government ITIs

Awards: Bangla selected as Best State in 2013, 2014 and 2016 at the All India Skills Competition organised by the Central Government

On the October 1, 2013, the Bangla Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, launched the Kanyashree Prakalpa. This scheme is a peerless initiative for the girl child. About 55 lakh girls have been brought under this scheme.

The scheme was introduced to arrest the dropout rate in schools and prevent early marriage among girl students. The vision behind this project, and one of the primary reasons behind its success, was its two-pronged aim:

· First, to incentivise women students to stay in school and also complete their education, and
· Second, reducing the heavy incidence of child marriage that adversely affects large sections of the population, within the state, in particular, and across the country in general.

Kanyashree has been recognised, both nationally and internationally, for its considerable contribution to culling school dropout by allowing an annual allowance of Rs 1,000 to female students from the 8th to the 12th grades and a one-time grant of Rs 25,000 to women in order to continue their education or vocational training. The scheme has been extended to university students as well.

The massive budget allocation to the scheme by the State Government denotes its commitment to the cause and the scheme.

· The State has spent nearly Rs 5,000 crore for this scheme, since inception.
· In a way of comparison, the National Budget allocation to a counterpart scheme, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, is close to Rs 600 crore, despite the massive hike in the allocation this fiscal year.

The scheme seeks to structurally empower women instead of merely providing welfare. The grants provided to these women are seen to instil in them the dignity and the independence to follow their dreams. These dreams are propelled by the scheme, not merely funded by it.

While the direct result of this digitised and transparent scheme began to yield tangible results one month into its introduction, the counterparts, all over the country are grappling with systemic problems such as dropouts in higher education, even with rising enrolment among women.

Kanyashree’s holistic approach has resulted in its recognition at major international and national forums.

It was represented as one of the ‘best practices’ at the Girl Summit 2014, organised by Department for International Development, UK and UNICEF in London in July 2014.

It has also received the Manthan Award 2014 for e-governance in the category of ‘Women and Empowerment’ covering South Asia and Asia Pacific region.

At the national level, it won a silver prize in the National Award for e-Governance 2014-15 under the category of ‘Outstanding Performance in Citizen-Centric Service’.

In the June of 2017, this flagship scheme became the reason behind the Bangla Government winning the first prize from the United Nations Public Service Award, coming out on top from a list of 552 welfare projects from 62 countries.

The success of the Kanyashree lies in the freshness of the scheme, the courage of the government flagging it and the restructuring of this model to do things differently from the old and mostly failing models followed by the Centre.

Kanyashree Prakalpa, inspired by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was launched on October 1, 2013. The scheme aims to curb child marriage, among several other goals.

Here are 10 things about the internationally-recognised scheme:

1. Kanyashree has brought 55 lakh adolescent as well as college and university-going girls under its fold, covering over 16,600 institutions in every corner of the State.

2. Over 5,000 girls have been trained in self-defence techniques so far.

3. Kanyashree Dishari – a special educational and awareness exposure visit of Kanyashree girls in North 24 Parganas district – has been launched.

4. Many Kanyashree girls are being given vocational and other skill development training.

5. Thirty Kanyashree beneficiaries trained under Swabalamban, organised by the company, Brainware, for becoming unarmed security guards, of which 16 have been successfully placed in different organisations.

6. In convergence with Kanyashree Prakalpa, the Sabala scheme provided nutrition under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme to about 98,820 Kanyashree girls during the two years till 2016-17.

7. About 1,600 out-of-school girls have been readmitted to formal/informal education system and 50 per cent of them linked with Kanyashree Prakalpa benefits.

8. For Kanyashree Prakalpa, the Bangla Government received the United Nations Public Service Award in 2017.

9. Kanyashree Prakalpa received the United Nations WSIS Prize 2016 in the ‘Champion in e-Governance’ category and was the finalist at the GEMTech Awards 2016, hosted by UN WOMEN & ITU.

10. Kanyashree Prakalpa received the National e-Governance Award financial year (FY) 2014-2015, awarded by the Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Department, Government of India.

11. The scheme received the 2015 Skoch Order of Merit Award for Smart Governance as well as the CSI-Nihilent Award for e-governance for FY 2014-15.