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The CM reached Malda around 1.30 p.m. and held a meeting with the district administration to take stock of the progress in implementation of different governmental schemes. That apart, she laid foundation stones for 55 projects and inaugurated 37 others in the district.

She handed over documents and certificates to the beneficiaries of different government schemes like Kanyashree and wages for widows, among others. Later, the Chief Minister addressed a public rally at Brindabani ground and then left for Raiganj (North Dinajpur) by road.

Excerpts from Chief Minister`s speech at Malda

I welcome all the people of Malda. I have not come alone. I have come with representatives from different departments. I have brought the West Bengal Government to you. We do not run the administrative systems behind closed walls in Kolkata.  We have held three administrative meetings with all district officials right from BDO level. We keep track of all work done in each district.

Malda is famous for its mangoes. This is a small scale industry. We are building two marketing hubs here at Harishchandrapur. We are building an IT hub too. A Silk Park worth Rs 38 crore is coming up at Madhughat. Rs. 48 crore will be spent for the development of small scale industries and cottage industries in the region.

A food park has been constructed in Malda town at an expense of Rs 38 Cr. 25 industrialists have been given space there. There will be a lot of employment. The only regional Research Centre in North Eastern region on Fruits will be set up in the district on 70 acres of land. Central Institute of Sub Tropical Horticulture, Lukhnow has been given 71 Acres of land. Mango and Litchi are the prime research subjects here. There will be polytechnic collages and ITIs in every block. It will take a some time to build these; but I promise they will be done.

Construction of a Polytechnic College at Ratua-Kaliachak has started. Work for the construction of an ITI at Chanchal block is also underway. Now you do not need to go to Kolkata for training. 29 primary schools and 33 pre-secondary schools have been set up in the district. 49 secondary schools are being upgraded to higher secondary level. 41 more such schools will be upgraded soon. A PTTI building is coming up at Manikchak. 13 model schools are being set up in the district at Chanchal II, Englishbazar, Old Maldah, Gajol, Habibpur, Kaliachak and other places. We are committed towards providing quality education to all sections of people.

We are transforming Malda into a Medical Hub; a Multi- Super Specialty Hospital will come up at Chanchal. A Mother & Child Care Centre is being set up at Medical College at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore. 10 SNSUs have already been set up.  Fair Price Medicine Shops have been set up at Medical College Hospital. There will be 3 more such shops in this district. We are also planning to start Fair Price Diagnostic Centres, a total of 50 across the state. We are also giving Cancer medicines for free from these shops.

I want to make a request to all the mothers and sisters present here. Please let your girls study. A girl student is entitled to receive the benefits of Kanyashree Scheme. We intend to bring one lakh girls under the purview of the scheme from Malda alone. Please do not marry them off at an early age. Malda has the highest rate of deliveries at home. Please do visit hospitals for deliveries. We need to take care of our babies; they are the future of the state. Now pregnant women can even avail transport to major hospitals just by making a call.

We will build a Kisan Mandi in every block. Work for the same has already started. We will distribute arsenic-free water to 233 villages in the district. Pipelined water supply project has also been taken up, which will benefit 10 lakh people in different blocks. 173 tube wells are being set up at different blocks.

Tourist spots like Ramkeli and Gaud are being renovated in the district. Adina in Gajol block will be developed as a tourism hub.  Seven other projects to boost tourism in the district have also been taken up. Money has also been allotted for development of roads in the region.

We are targeting June 2014 deadline for complete electrification of the district. All of the Govt. officials, public representatives will choose a single day in January to make village roads. When we say we will do something, we do it. We will make toilets in poor households, in phases. We are buying paddy directly from the farmers. We have created Employment Bank, Land Bank. Only around 16000 people are yet to get their Kisan Credit Cards in Malda. We will ensure everyone gets a job under the 100 days work scheme.

Reservation has been made for minority communities in educational sector. But the poor do not have any caste or creed. We have started the Adhikar Scheme for economically backward section. It is more important to be human than play politics. Politicians should make sacrifices for the people. Even as Railway Minister I had taken up a slew of projects for North Bengal.

We do not have the money. Major part of our revenue income is spent in paying off debts of Left Front. Central govt has not listened to our demand for a financial package. We had to start from scratch, right from cultivation of onions to fishes. We have to even import fish from Andhra Pradesh and Bangladesh. How can a Bengali have fishless meals? We have started pisciculture in 350 ponds. We took the initiative of starting onion cultivation in the state. Why did the previous govt never thought of such an idea? Every fortnight we hold meetings on price rise.

A seed does not instantly transform into a full-grown tree. It takes time. We are taking initiatives, results will take time. This is our matribhoomi. This is our pitribhoomi. This is our karmabhoomi. This is our swapnabhoomi. This is our bishwabhoomi.

We have launched the Kanyashree scheme for girls, Yuvashree scheme for the youth. There will be works for everybody; we will ensure it.  Ask & you shall receive. We are here to serve you. Be patient. Stay away from depression. We are there to help you in any way we can. As soon as elections approach, some parties become pro-Muslims, some pro-Hindu. We serve only Maa, Mati, Manush. Everyone is Indian.

I will keep fighting for the sake of people till my last breath. I will work for you as long as my health permits. You are my family. We are taking all steps to connect Malda with state capital through helicopter service.

We have to transform into a global brand – Bishwa Bangla.

I wish you all the best.