Bengal Govt to introduce integrated project monitoring system

Bengal Govt to introduce integrated project monitoring system

Posted on June 24, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

To ensure better execution of projects, the State Government is planning to introduce an integrated online platform for monitoring projects undertaken by its departments.

This was decided at a recent meeting of senior officials of some of the crucial departments of the State Government, including Finance Department, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department and Public Works Department. The preliminary tasks for introducing the integrated project monitoring system have already been carried out.

It may be mentioned that, after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to power in 2011, Bengal has witnessed a lot of developmental work. Moreover, in a bid to ensure that all projects are implemented properly and in a time-bound manner, the Chief Minister visits every district to hold administrative review meetings with concerned officials.

The Trinamool Congress Government has also introduced the Integrated Finance Management System (IFMS) and it has simplified the system of managing all finance-related issues.

Source: Millennium Post

Bengal Govt taking initiatives to tap export potential of orchids

Posted on June 23, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Horticulture Department is gearing up to tap the immense demand for orchids in the international market.

According to a senior official of the department, the State Government has recognised the huge potential in the export of orchids and is taking various steps, including talking to all the stakeholders in the trade, to ensure the potential is properly tapped.

Orchids are mostly grown in colder regions. Darjeeling grows Cymbidium orchids in abundance, which is of high demand in countries like USA, UK, Australia and Japan. Cultivation of orchids is a low-cost activity and the flowers can be grown without a greenhouse. However, after harvesting, the flowers need to be shipped out quite fast. Hence, the department is talking with the Airports Authority of India to upgrade Bagdogra Airport so that it can handle more international flights. With the upgrading, the market for South-east Asia can also be tapped for export.

Another issue being looked into is packaging. Exports require packaging of international standards that ensures good shelf life. Hence, the department will hold talks with Indian Institute of Packaging for having a packaging protocol for flower exports.

Another issue coming in the way of higher exports is the fact that the Cymbidium orchid has a long gestation period of four to six years. To resolve this, the department is working out on how to use advanced technology for the cultivation of these flowers and extend all required help to the cultivators.

Another major challenge is to source good orchid varieties to keep pace with emerging trends, since demand in the orchid industry is determined by changing tastes. Hence, plans are being made to cultivate more species of orchids as per demand.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while attending the Hills Business Summit in Darjeeling last March, had asked the CII to prepare a detailed project report on the cultivation of cinchona, orchids and medicinal plants, all of which have huge markets, both internationally and in the country. The initiatives taken by the Horticulture Department in realising the huge export potential of orchids are in pursuance of that.

Source: Millennium Post

India’s first transgender lit fest to be held in Kolkata

Posted on June 23, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

India’s first literature festival for transgender people in the second week of July.

This was recently announced in Kolkata by Sahitya Akademi, whose eastern India branch is organising the meet. According to the organisers, the event will empower the community.

In this connection, it needs to be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always prioritised transgender rights, and the Trinamool Congress Government was only the third State Government to set up a development board for the community in 2015.

Manabi Bandopadhyay, a trendsetter in transgender rights and the vice-chairman of the above-mentioned board, who is also the country’s first transgender college principal, is taking the lead role in suggesting the names of authors who will be participating in the event.

Source: The Times of India

Now report taxi refusals via WhatsApp

Posted on June 23, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Government has set up helplines to address any grievance that a commuter or traveller might have regarding taxis.

This is in response to complaints by ordinary citizens about taxi drivers unwilling to take people unless they pay an amount higher than normal or misbehaving with passengers regarding the issue of fares. These complaints started coming even though the State Government recently notified higher fares in line with higher fuel prices.

There are three ways to lodge a complaint – call up a toll-free number (between 11am and 5pm), send the complaint through WhatsApp or mail the complaint.

· Toll-free number: 18003455192
· WhatsApp number: 8902017191
· Email: pvdkolkata20@gmail.com

The complaints would be attended to on a first-come-first-served basis. The complainants would be called for a hearing, following which the driving license of the accused could be suspended for three months. All complaints would be addressed within 15 days.

Mamata Banerjee attacks BJP at extended core committee meeting of Trinamool

Posted on June 21, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Lok Sabha elections are around the corner. Ahead of the polls that decide the fate of the country, Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee instructed party leaders and workers to increase their people’s outreach activities. She was addressing the extended core committee meeting of the party.

The Chairperson said, “You must reach out to the people. Or else there is no place for you in the party. The party will not tolerate those who are inactive.”

She said that Lok Sabha elections could happen three times from now, may be six months. They will surely be held eight months later. She asked the party workers to be ready. She took on the BJP over allegations of EVM tampering.

The Chairperson said, “The work for the revision of electoral rolls has begun. Ensure that the procedures are followed. It is the BJP’s habit to tamper EVMs. Our party workers must be alert and monitor them.”

She also slammed the BJP for their divisive politics. Mamata Banerjee said, “We are not a militant organisation like the BJP. They are creating fights not only among Christians, Muslims but also among Hindus.”

“They are threatening to carry out encounters. Just because they are in power in Delhi, they are talking about hurling bombs. I dare them to come and touch us. We will show them their place.”

“The CPM is falling at the feet of the BJP and clutching at their straws to stay afloat…Congress is opposing BJP in Delhi and holding hands here. Where are the rules, the principles of the Congress? CPM, Congress, Maoists and BJP… they are the darkest underbelly of society,” the Trinamool chief said.

Suggesting a nexus between the parties, she added, “Four heads have come together. They are looting money, stealing it, and lighting fires”.

She also warned party workers against infighting and complacency. The Chairperson said, “We have formed the party after years of struggle. We have come to power because of people’s support. If someone thinks they are bigger than the party, the doors are open for them to leave. Only Mamata Banerjee will work, this cannot be the way.”

She also asked district-level leadership to take up programmes in the run up to 21 July rally. Mamata Banerjee also asked the party to step-up the protests against rising fuel prices.

Sangeet Mela and Sangeet Samman – Honouring the talent of Bengal

Posted on June 21, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

It is well-known that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is a connoisseur of the arts – be it music, dance, art or anything else.

Under her initiative, every year, the Trinamool Congress Government has been organising Bangla Sangeet Mela successfully. The festival has turned into one of the foremost cultural extravaganzas of the State.

After taking over as the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee also started the tradition of honouring the musical talent of Bengal with Sangeet Samman and Sangeet Mahasamman awards.

At the last festival, held from December 23 to 30, 2017 across nine venues, more than 3,000 artistes performed. Veteran artistes from across Bengal, including thousands of folk artistes participated.

The Sangeet Mela is not only a musical treat but also a platform for new and upcoming artistes to showcase their talents.

Lok Prasar Prakalpa: Reviving the lost glory of Bengal

Posted on June 21, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Through the Lok Prasar Prakalpa, the Trinamool Congress Government has revived Bengal’s folk culture through promoting folk artistes and providing for their economic betterment.

This initiative for folk artistes was taken by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself in an effort to restore the lost glory of the State.

Every month, the State Government is providing them with a pension, as well as an unemployment allowance. Besides, the folk artistes are gifted an honorarium at every event. Nearly two lakh local artists have been benefited by this initiative till date.

Folk artistes between 18 and 60 years of age receive a retainership fee of Rs 1,000 and in addition, an opportunity for four performances per month, with Rs 1,000 being paid for each. Senior artistes, that is, those above 60, receive a similar sum as monthly pension.

They get opportunities to perform at Government functions and at fairs organised by the State. Many Government schemes are promoted through their songs. This helps in awareness about the schemes reaching the farthest corners of Bengal.

The State Government has been organising the annual Biswa Bangla Lok Sanskriti Utsabs in Kolkata (the third one being held last January) to promote the talent of folk artistes in Kolkata. This festival is one of the highlights of the city’s festival scene.

These efforts by the State Government have lifted the art forms from the point of near-extinction to that of widespread popularity. There is a continuous to spread the popularity of these arts all over India and abroad as well.

West Bengal: Development at its best wins the Panchayat

Posted on June 20, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government publication, West Bengal, has published a special supplement (February-May 2018), titled Development at its Best Wins the Panchayat.

The issue focuses on the development in various sectors in Bengal that have been brought about by the Trinamool Congress Government.

The supplement has been brought out in both English and Bengali.

The English version of the book can be accessed by clicking here.

Rs 25,000 crore export dues still pending: Amit Mitra

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

GST refunds to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore are still pending for exporters, the West Bengal Finance Minister, Dr Amit Mitra, has said.

Nearly 3,00,000 refund applications have been received since the roll-out of the GST regime on July 1. Around 35-40 per cent of these applications have to be physically verified since the GST Network (or GSTN) is not in place, Dr Mitra alleged.

Auto verification would have ensured faster clearance of documents and quicker refunds.

“GSTN is still not in place and delay in auto verification of documents has delayed refunds for exporters,” the Finance Minister said during a press conference organised by WBIDC in Kolkata on Monday.

Dr Mitra pointed out that physical verification of documents are now being done by officials and this can give rise to a set of “inspector-raaj”.

“We will take up the matter with the GST council. Moreover, I have been saying this for quite some time that GSTN is not at all ready. And the result is this Rs 25,000 crore export dues,” he said.

Bengal eyeing two-fold hike in export growth rate by 2021: Amit Mitra

Posted on June 19, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Bengal government has set a target of doubling the export growth rate of the state within 2021, said Industry, Commerce and Enterprise minister Amit Mitra on Monday. He was addressing a workshop with the exporters, industries and various other stakeholders at a city hotel to accelerate the process of export promotion from the state.

Despite some issues relating to the non-payment of refunds to the exporters, particularly to the small-scale ones, the state government has been able to achieve export growth rate of 11.17 percent last year.

Dr Mitra said that there was an export of 8.23 billion US dollars from Bengal in the financial year 2016-17, which has gone up to 9.15 billion US dollars in 2017-18. Products worth around Rs 62,000 crore have been exported from the state in 2017-18.

The Bengal government is taking all possible steps to double the figure in the next three years. “We have achieved 11.17 percent growth rate in exports, which is pretty high among all other states. It was around 10 percent last year.

The export growth rate of the country according to CAGR remained at 6.01 percent for a period from 2007-08 up to 2016-17. The overall export that stands at Rs 62,000 will be doubled in the next three years,” Dr Mitra said.

According to the minister, an information centre will be set up jointly by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and the MSME department, to disseminate information relating to the exports and various schemes.

An export cell will be set up at the district industrial centres, so that people interested in exports can gather information relating to it. Altogether 80 officers from industry and MSME sectors will be given training at the Institute of Foreign Trade in Kolkata, for a period of one month from July 5.

Among the total number of officers, around 60 would be from the MSME department, while the rest would be from industries. After returning to the district industrial centres, these officers will give answer to the quarries of the potential exports. They will be made aware on how the documentation is done.

Dr Mitra also said that a dyeing centre has come up at Nabadwip, which will meet global standards so that the exporters from the state would no longer face any problems during the certification. Around 50,000 weavers would also be benefitted from the project. There was an overall export of 825 million US dollar of iron and steel from Bengal in 2016-17 and the target is to reach up to 1,500 million US dollar within the next three years.

While gold and other precious material export remained at 711 million US dollar, with a target of 1,200 million US dollar. The Bengal government has developed a major infrastructure by setting up a Gems and Jewellery Park at Ankurhati in Domjur in this regard. In the leather sector, export stands at 687 million dollar and the target is to reach 1,500 million dollar.

Asia’s biggest leather park has come up at Bantala. The state government has allotted a Rs 400 crore investment in Bantala. Marine products and petroleum products have seen a rise in the export. The minister also reminded that apart from airport and sea port, a land port should also be set up for accelerating the exports. In case of fresh vegetables, the exporters were facing problems as they have to export the products through Vizag port. The issue would be taken up with the Union commerce minister.