Month: January 2019

On January 15 and 16, the Bangla Government organised the 5th State-level sports meet for inmates of the government’s social welfare homes.

There are 50 social welfare homes across the State under the government, which are categorised under three categories – state welfare homes, aided homes and sponsored homes.

Destitute children within the age group of 6 to 18 years are taken care of in these homes. The State Government bears the entire responsibility of food, lodging and education of the children, who mostly hail from marginally-placed families.

The children are also encouraged to take part in athletic events for achieving a healthy student life, and hence this annual sports competition is held.

Around 900 children from the 50 institutions had enlisted for 32 events at the sports meet, which included 100m and 200m sprints, high jump, long jump, etc., arranged separately for boys and girls. Winners were felicitated with awards.

Later, a talent hunt would be organised among the champions, and the selected ones will get direct access to the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The fifth edition of the event, this year, apart from hosting of a sports competition, also saw a cultural competition. The cultural meet was held on the first day of the event. Dance, drama and drawing competitions were also held.

Source: Millennium Post

The State Self-Help Group and Self-Employment (SHG&SE) Department started the scheme, Muktidhara as a unique sustainable livelihood project for the socio-economic uplifting of members of SHGs in villages, their families and unemployed youth of the villages across Bangla by the generation of income through sustainable means.

The scheme has the following primary aims:

• Facilitate establishment of micro-farms and micro-enterprises and create workforce for the services sector
• Assist market linkage support through development of cluster activities
• Develop rural economy through convergence with concerned departments

As per the aims of the scheme, in the next two years, the youth of the State will be economically established in 39 subdivisions in 11 districts, viz., North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly , Murshidabad, Nadia, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram and Purulia.

Under the scheme, 106 villages have been selected as model villages for intensive work.

The subjects for training are animal husbandry, fishery, garment-making, tailoring, beautician course, food processing, gardening, auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw driving, motor driving and repairing, TV, fridge and AC repairing, plumbing, electrician training, masonry, carpentry, mobile repairing, carpentry (Tally and GST calculations), hospitality and tourism, security guards, retail associates and several others.

The Muktidhara Scheme will ensure economic development of rural Bangla and generate income for rural development.

The State Government is ensuring organ transplantation in more medical colleges. In recent times, the government has been giving a lot of stress on the noble deed of organ donation, and hence the need for more organ transplantation facilities has been felt.

Organ donation and transplantation has become fairly regular in Bangla, and both government and private hospitals are conducting operations.

In 2019, three government hospitals in Kolkata would get facilities for conducting liver transplants, four would be able to conduct kidney transplants and two would have facilities for heart transplants.

Being done at government hospitals, all these organ transplantations would be free of cost.

Till now, organ transplantations in government hospitals were taking place at only two facilities: kidney and liver at SSKM, and heart at CMCH.

In January, SSKM Hospital would soon get license for heart transplantation too. CMCH and RG Kar would get licenses for liver transplantation, and CMCH, RG Kar and NRS Medical College and Hospital would get licenses for kidney transplantation.

Source: Ei Samay

In the year 2019, to promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), two dozen industrial parks would be built in Bangla, said the State Industry and Finance Minister, Dr Amit Mitra recently at seminar organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Of the 24, 15 would be in north Bengal and nine in south Bengal. The 24 industrial parks have the potential to provide employment opportunities to more than a lakh people, he said.

Of the 15 in north Bengal, the work for setting up seven has already started. All these are coming up on land which is part of the government’s land banks. The sectors with potential are food processing, manufacturing and auto components.

The government would be spending to set up facilities for power, roads, sanitation and drinking water pipelines at these industrial parks.

Trinamool workers and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) launched a massive clean-up operation at Brigade Parade grounds after the mega rally of national leaders was all ready for the mega-rally at the Brigade Parade Ground. The mayor was in charge of all preparations.

Immediately after the grand meeting of leaders from across the country, workers got busy cleaning up, brooms and buckets in hand – in and around the Brigade Parade Ground, and across the city streets and other places.

Kolkata mayor had earlier held a meeting of all relevant departments – Sewerage and Drainage, Water Supply, Solid Waste Management, Bustee Services, and Parks and Squares.

Trinamool Congress has always ensured that meeting grounds are cleaned up and restored to the original state immediately after rallies.

 

The leaders of the various parties who attended today’s rally at Brigade Parade Grounds, met for a brief meeting at Soujanya guest house. After the meeting, they addressed the press.

It was decided in today’s meeting that a committee will be formed which will prepare a draft on EVMs, which will be submitted to the Election Commission. This committee will comprise Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Satish Misra.

As per the draft, parties will write to the Election Commission. They may also meet during the Parliament Session later this month, said Mamata Banerjee.

Chandrababu Naidu said, “This meeting will change the fate of the country. At this moment, the country is in distress, democracy is under attack. We have to save the country and democracy. BJP is playing divisive politics everywhere. People are with us. Regarding the future activities, we will take decisions together.”

Akhilesh Yadav said, “We may run our respective political parties following our ideologies but I would thank Mamata Ji for bringing us together on the same stage. BJP has disappointed the people of the entire nation. They have made promises which they could never fulfil. This is why I am warning the the common people, do not fall in their trap.”

Satish Misra said, “People want to oust this government. We have to be alert so that they do not resort to malpractices involving EVMs like the last elections. All parties will talk to Election Commission about this. “

Abhishek Manu Singhvi said “There are only a few countries left which use EVMs for elections; then why is India not thinking about reintroducing paper ballots? Some provinces in America, and developed countries like Holland, France, Germany returned to paper ballots after experimenting with EVMs. But since there is little time left for the general elections, our demand is that VVPATs must be present in all EVMs. 50% of the EVMS have to be cross-checked. Next week we will go to Election Commission to discuss about this.”

Mamata Banerjee commented, “We have decided that a committee will formed under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, Satis Misra, Arvind Kejriwal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi who will create a draft on EVM to be placed before the Election Commission. In the same manner other political parties will do the same. This is because it is very important to save the democracy of the country. If we get a chance we will meet at the Parliament.”

Farooq Abdullah said, “We want a transparent election. It is very important. I have fear regarding the EVMs. If elections are won fraudulently, will will never accept it.”

 

The historic Brigade Parade Grounds witnessed a historic rally where leaders of major Opposition parties of the country were present. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, Arunachal to Gujarat – leaders came from every corner of the country.

Every leader gave a clarion call to oust the BJP from power at Centre in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. For Mamata Banerjee’s speech on the occasion, click here.

Highlights of the speeches of national leaders:

Hardik Patel – Subhas Chandra Bose gave the clarion call – Give me blood , I shall give you freedom. We have to fight against the thieves. The people of this country will fight unitedly to drive out the goons of the country.

Jignesh Mevani – The country is going through a disaster. Our Constitution and democracy are under attack. In the last four and a half years farmers, labourers, tribals, minorities, the middle class- all are being oppressed. It is of utmost importance to put an end to the BJP and the RSS in the 2019 election.

Hemant Soren – The manner in which so many regional parties have assembled here today proves that we are with the people, and we have their trust too, and hence we will together be able to defeat the communal forces in the country.

Gegong Apang – We all believe in the Federal Front. State governments elected democratically are being oppressed. The leaders at the centre are playing divisive politics. The Citizen Amendment Bill is one of the example.

Pu Lalduhawma – The Citizen Amendment Bill has set ablaze the North Eastern States. This Bill is being used to cut off the North East from the country. I want to warn the Prime Minister, if this Bill is implemented there will be no peace left in this country.

Yashwant Sinha – This is not about a single person but a thought process. There is not a single agency in the country that has not been tampered with and has destroyed. That is the reason we are all here united to save the republic.

Arun Shourie – It is very important to get rid of the Government at the Centre because no other government in the past have spreads so much lies. No other Government had tried to to destroy agencies like the CBI, the Reserve Bank of India, the Election Commission, the judiciary and the Parliament.

Sharad Yadav – The country is in distress. Farmers are worst sufferers. People of the country have lost hope. Businessmen have suffered because of GST. The country has suffered a setback because of demonetisation. The country is going through an undeclared emergency. We have to bring back freedom.

Jayant Chaudhury – What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow. I Thank Didi because, what she did today, is very difficult. If you have to bring Acche Din, you will have to get rid of Modi. The people of Uttar Pradesh will work hand in hand with the people of Bengal to drive out the BJP from the country.

Satish Mishra: All over the country, there is only one cry – the NDA cannot be tolerated any longer. This Central Government has to be ousted as soon as possible. To save the Constitution, the BJP-led government must must be thrown out of power.

HD Kumaraswamy: Today we are witnessing a system where our democratic government is headed by undemocratic, anti-constitutional leaders at the Centre who do not respect or respond to the people’s aspirations. It is really unfortunate that the Union government has turned blind and deaf to the plight of the common man.

Farooq Abdullah – The country attained freedom because of the selfless sacrifice of people from all religion, speaking all languages. And after 70 years of independence, people are being divided in the name of religion. Divisions are being created between Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Bengalis and others. Assam is on fire. There are troubles in Manipur, Nagaland and other places. We have to make sacrifices to save this country.

Arvind Kejriwal – Today marks an important day in the political history of India. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah has have destroyed this country. People of the country are tired of these too. Youth do not have job. 1.25 crore people have lost their job because of demonetization.

Farmers have committed suicide. We need to drive this duo out of this country. BJP has a dangerous plan. They want to destroy the democracy. 2019 will be an election to drive out Modi and Amit Shah. I am sure that Modi and Amit Shah will be driven out and good times will return.

Chandrababu Naidu: We all have one aim: Save the country, save democracy. Whereas we want to keep the country united, they want to break it up into pieces.
Five years ago the BJP came to power and from that time on, they have only been giving speeches. This is because there is a prime minister who believes only in publicity, and not doing any work. We want a prime minister who would work for the poor, for all classes of people. That’s why we have all assembled here today.

MK Stalin: Even a few months back, Modi ji used to say that I don’t have any opposition, and now, speaking cuss words in exasperation in speeches. Seeing all of us getting together, he has realised that defeat is inevitable. Before coming to power, he had made a lot of promises, but now bringing disaster after disaster for the people.

Akhilesh Yadav: Who will become the next prime minister? I will say, whoever the people will decide to be. This has happened before and will happen again. The BJP has allied with many – with the CBI, the ED. However we have allied with the people of the country. And always, in a democracy, whatever the people decide ultimately happens.

Dr AM Singhvi: The cloud of misrule is over; a rainbow coalition is forming. By whatever name you call it, the time has come to form a coalition. The Modi Government no longer listens to the people. We have to come together to prevent the division of votes.

Mallikarjun Kharge: The upcoming Lok Sabha election is not just any other election. It is a fight to save democracy in our country, and to save the rule of the Constitution, from the forces which are out to destroy them.

Sharad Pawar: We will all work together. The BJP leaders are saying that this coalition will not hold, that it will break down on the issue of prime minister. Let me tell you all, we the leaders have not come here to decide who will become the prime minister but to save the common people and the farmers, to decide on how to re-employ the unemployed, to protect the women, the Dalits and the minorities.

HD Deve Gowda: After the formation of the coalition government at the Centre, out first job would be to decide how to do good work. The people want a new government, one that will protect the democratic rights of the people and the impartiality of the constitutional bodies. We need the coalition government to remove Prime Minister Narendra Modi from power and create a strong nation.

Shatrughan Sinha: Such a big public meeting is rarely seen elsewhere, something that Bangla has proudly accomplished. If you refrain from telling the truth, then the people will say, “Chowkidar chor hain” (The guard himself is a thief). You have not done anything worth being called “Made in India” and as long as you don’t do any such thing, the people will continue to taunt with “Made in China.”

Tejaswi Yadav: If you unite with them, you will become Raja Harishchandra but if you oppose them, they will put the CBI and the ED up against you. They are punishing my father by imprisoning him. But we will not bow down to any pressure. We want to save the country.

 

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today gave a clarion call to remove BJP from power at Centre during the historic ‘United India Rally’ at Brigade Parade Grounds.

Leaders of several Opposition parties were present today at today’s rally. Every leader spoke of the tough times the country is passing through, and the need to remove BJP from power at Centre.

Highlights of Mamata Banerjee’s speech:

• Around 24 political parties are present today at this historic ‘United India Rally’.
• Modi’s expiry date (like medicines) is coming soon. A new dawn is coming. We have taken the pledge to work together.
• Bangla’s land is a holy land. It is the land of freedom struggle as well as the renaissance. Bangla has shown way to the country during the freedom struggle as well as during the cultural reawakening.
• Some people are trying to destroy the country. As Arvind Kejriwal said, what Pakistan could not do in 70 years, the Government at Centre managed to do in just five years. They have managed to drive a wedge between communities. They have destroyed all the institutions. They have started politics of hate. They have destroyed the country’s economy.
• Banks are in danger, the market is in danger, prices of goods are skyrocketing and BJP is smiling.
• While India is suffering, the BJP is busy staging riots. There is a slump in the economy and democracy, while BJP is bossing around.
• They are fighting elections with looted money. They have looted the people during demonetisation and by hastily imposing GST. Now they are telling that everybody else is corrupted. He claims only he is honest and the rest are dishonest.
• Jan Dhan, NPA, Rafale, insurance are big scams. There are other big scams as well. Those who are dishonest are preaching about integrity. They are talking about honesty?
• How much money did they have five years ago and how did their wealth increase? I don’t want to make personal comments but they initiated it. I believe in politics of courtesy ut they do not care about it. They crossed the Lakxman Rekha. They tried to implicate Sonia ji, Lalu ji, Akhilesh, Mayawati ji and even me. Why will they expect to be spared?
• If you are with them, you are labelled as honest or else you are a bunch of thieves! They are trying to scare us. This is what happens to people who know that the end is near.
• While the State Government is paying the money for farmers’ crop insurance, the BJP is promoting itself. They are claiming that they are doing everything. If that is true, what is the need of the State Government then?
• According to the Constitution, the State Government is also elected by people, just like the Central Government. Now they are not even going by the Constitution. They are changing the history, the geography, the Constitution and even democracy. When everything is changing, why will the BJP Government not change?
• The BJP is trying to buy MLAs of the Karnataka Assembly. Government is elected by the common people. They do not even help the common people.
• They promised to provide jobs to two crore people. On the other hand, two crore people have lost their jobs in 2018. They have only lied to the people.
• They are killing people in the name of NRC. They are oppressing people. They are doing whatever they want. This cannot continue anymore. At times, people have to take a stand.
• Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman celebrated the Vijay Utsav of creation of Bangladesh at this venue. This is where Pandit Nehru, Atal Ji and the Left parties organised rallies. We have organised this rally to provide justice to the people of the country. This gathbandhan will create a new history for the nation.
• Today, everybody should stand united because the nation demands it. Region is not important, the nation is, and this should be borne in mind. Collective leadership is very essential.
• People are asking who will be the leader. There is no dearth of leaders here. Their party is leaderless, so there is just one Prime Minister. In our gathbandhan, we all are leaders, we all are workers, we all are the subjects and we all are the kings. This is democracy. We will later finalise who will be the Prime Minister. The time has not yet come.
• Our meetings start from today. Whether it is Chandrababu Naidu or Kejriwal or Farooq Abdullah Ji, we will go for meetings whenever they call us.
• Even as we are addressing a meeting here, the Centre has called all the agencies in Delhi for a meeting. They will decide now how to counter us. They can do whatever they feel like. We have respect for the CBI. BJP has been instrumental in downgrading them. Not all officers are bad. There are good people and bad people and goodie goodie people in every place.
• They have discredited the CBI, RBI and the ED. They have destroyed the banks. Now, if you vote for the BJP, your savings in the banks may not be returned to you.
• They are even doing politics with the BSF and the CRPF. They are lynching people.
• One of our poets went to a programme in Assam. He was assaulted by the BJP activists for four hours. This does not happen in Bangla.
• One of their main agenda is to come and provoke riots in Bangla. We will not allow them to incite riots in Bangla in the name of Rath Yatra. This is my promise to the people. We will fulfil that promise.
• Wherever we organise rallies, they want to organise a meeting there after a few days. I want to tell them, even if you organise meetings 365 days a year, you will not win even the two seats you have in this State.
• BJP will not win in Bangla or Bihar. Mayawati Ji and Akhilesh have come together in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP will not win there. National Conference will perform well in Jammu & Kashmir. AAP will win in Delhi. I will request Hardik and Jignesh to work with conviction and courage in Gujarat. BJP will not fare well in north-eastern States. We have to prepare mentally to defeat the BJP. They do not consult anyone, they do not believe in democracy.
• Enough of Achhe Din, it is time to bid goodbye to BJP. It is time for change at Centre. For the sake of youths, farmers, labourers, and people of the country, we have to defeat the BJP.
• It is not important who will become the Prime Minister. We want the BJP to go. After that we will decide who will become the PM. We have to build a strong government.
• I want to ask the BJP, have you given respect to any leader? What about Shatrughan Sinha? Jaswant Singh? Arun Shourie? Rajnath Singh? Nitin Gadkari? Elections are approaching, so you are talking of collective leadership. After elections, you will forget about it and throw away other leaders.
• We are against divisive politics. We are against hate. We do not want bloodlust. We are against discrimination. We want constructive politics, not destructive agenda.
• Hindu stands for sacrifice, Muslims represent integrity. Christians stand for love and Sikhs represent validaan. This is our country. A person who can work for all, without discrimination, will be the leader of the nation.
• BJP is leading the country towards a disaster. More than 2 crore people have lost their jobs. In Bangla we have reduced unemployment by 40%. They are promising to double farmers’ income by 2022. We have already tripled it in Bangla.
• We are not alone. All the parties here today, 23 parties, will work together to defeat the BJP and work for development. There are 2-4 parties more who will not support the BJP. We hope they will work for the country.
• Let them fight us politically. If they cannot deliver, they should give up their power. People of India have rejected them.
• We will organise another rally at Brigade, after a new government is formed, and BJP is defeated. I request all the leaders present today to come back after winning the elections. A change is imminent. No one can stop that.
• They are terrorising the media. They have destroyed jobs. This is the second struggle for independence. I have seen many leaders but never seen a more fascist government. He is like Hitler. People do not have any rights.
• We have to fight. BJP hatao, desh bachao. Jai Hind. Vande Mataram.

The day is finally here. The historic ‘United India Rally’ will take place at the Brigade Parade Grounds today, where several national leaders including a former prime minister and several union ministers, sitting chief ministers and former chief ministers will be present.

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had announced from the stage of Ekushe July Shahid Dibas in 2018 that a mega Opposition rally will be held at Brigade Parade Grounds. This is the culmination of her vision.

Here are the routes via which supporters will reach the venue today:

North and Central Kolkata – From Shyambazar, via Central Avenue and Bidhan Sarani. Another group of supporters will come from Sealdah, via Moulali, SN Banerjee Road. Supporters from Howrah will come via RR Avenue, Brabourne Road, Tea Board.

South Kolkata – From Hazra, via ATM Road and JL Nehru Road. Another group will come from Kidderpore via Hastings. Supporters from Park Circus will go via SN Banerjee Road and CIT Road.

Supporters from districts have been housed at Central Park in Karunamoyee, Gitanjali Stadium, Uttirno and Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.

 

The day is finally here. The historic ‘United India Rally’ will take place at the Brigade Parade Grounds today, where several national leaders including a former prime minister and several union ministers, sitting chief ministers and former chief ministers will be present.

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee had announced from the stage of Ekushe July Shahid Dibas in 2018 that a mega Opposition rally will be held at Brigade Parade Grounds. This is the culmination of her vision.

The leaders who are attending today’s rally are:

• H. D. Deve Gowda – Former Prime Minister
• HD Kumaraswamy – Chief Minister of Karnataka, Janata Dal (Secular)
• Arvind Kejriwal – Chief Minister of Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party
• Akhilesh Yadav – Samajwadi Party
• N Chandrababu Naidu – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party
• Sharad Pawar – Nationalist Congress Party
• Tejashwi Yadav – Rashtriya Janata Dal
• Mallikarjun Kharge – Indian National Congress
• Abhishek Manu Singhvi – Indian National Congress
• Satish Mishra – Bahujan Samaj Party
• MK Stalin – Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
• Yashwant Sinha – Former Union Minister
• Arun Shourie – Former Union Minister
• Shatrughan Sinha – Senior BJP leader
• Farooq Abdullah – National Conference
• Omar Abdullah – National Conference
• Gegong Apang – Former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh
• Jignesh Mevani – MLA of Gujarat Assembly
• Hardik Patel – Youth leader from Gujarat
• Hemant Soren – Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
• Sharad Yadav – Former Member of Parliament
• Ajit Singh – Rashtriya Lok Dal
• Baduruddin Ajmal – All India United Democratic Front
• Pu Lalduhoma – Zoram Nationalist Party