Tag: Bengal CM

Three-day Bengal Mango Utsav starts today

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Three-day Bengal Mango Utsav starts today

The State Government is organising a mango festival in Kolkata called Bengal Mango Utsav. It will start today at New Town Mela Ground, and will continue till June 10.

The Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Department is organising this festival, in collaboration with Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The entry to the festival is free. Another important fact is that this is a plastic-free event, in line with the Bengal Government’s initiatives on creating awareness about the environment.

The festival will host an exhibition on exotic varieties of mango and mango products from the various districts of Bengal. Of course, one can buy the articles on display as well.

The exhibition will be held from 4 PM to 8 PM today (June 8) and from 11 AM to 8 PM on June 9 and 10.

Another attraction at the festival will be a cooking competition, revolving around mangoes, which will be held on June 9 from 3 PM.

Bengal Govt to open 50 tourist information centres across Bengal

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Bengal Govt to open 50 tourist information centres across Bengal

To make information to tourists easily available, the Bengal Government has decided to open as many as 50 tourist information centres across the State.

Though aimed primarily at tourists from other parts of the country as well as from across the world, the information centres would cater to tourists from the State as well. All information related to a particular area would be available at each centre. These would be run by the Tourism Department.

These tourist centres would play a major role in making Bengal more tourist-friendly. As it is, it is one of the top States in terms of tourist arrivals, both nationally and internationally. This project would take Bengal significantly higher in the rankings.

Where to stay, what to do, what to eat, what to buy, what are the specialities of a particular place or area – information of every kind would be available at these centres. Guide books would be available in English, Hindi and Bengali. They would contain detailed information about the history, geography and culture of a place.

These centres are already running at the airports in Kolkata and Bagdogra. Soon they would come up in four other places in Kolkata (Kolkata and Sealdah railway stations, Rabindra Sadan and Madhusadan Mancha), Howrah and Santragachi railway stations, Kakdwip and Diamond Harbour railway stations (South 24 Parganas district), Murshidabad, Malda, Bankura, Birbhum district, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Siliguri and other places to cover all the districts.

The information available at the centres would also help tourists to decide how and where to go next. All in all, the tourist information centres would act as one-stop centres for all tourists visiting Bengal.

Source: Sangbad Pratidin

Bengal Govt to prepare database of steps taken to end bonded labour

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Bengal Govt to prepare database of steps taken to end bonded labour

The State Labour Department has taken up an initiative to prepare a database containing detailed information about the steps taken to abolish bonded labour in the state. It will also contain information related to the initiatives taken to extend total support to such labourers who were rescued at different times.

According to a departmental official, data from all the districts will be compiled at the department’s headquarters. A day-long workshop will also be held, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on elimination of bonded labour. It will be attended by senior representatives of NHRC and all concerned officials of the State Government, including those involved in the work of abolishing bonded labour in districts.

There is one vigilance committee in every district headed by district magistrate to carry out the work of abolishing bonded labour and maintain strict vigil. Initiatives including helping them to get proper rehabilitation and at the same time, getting them enrolled with employment schemes and opening of bank accounts are taken.

 

Source: Millennium Post

NEET question paper row: Mamata Banerjee slams Centre

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on NEET question paper row: Mamata Banerjee slams Centre

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today chaired a meeting to take stock of the health situation in the State. At the end of the meeting, she expressed her satisfaction with the services provided by doctors, nurses and health workers.

The Chief Minister slammed the Centre for rising prices of life-saving medicines. She said since the Centre has increased the prices, the medicines are unavailable at many places, due to which, common people are suffering.

She also slammed the Centre for the question paper fiasco in NEET. She said, “In this year’s NEET exam, students from our State could not perform well because of problems in translation. English and Bengali papers were different. They are not giving priority to regional needs. Students who speak the local language are thus getting disadvantaged. We have already written to the Centre on this issue.”

Treatment at hospitals in Bengal is given free of cost. There has been a sea-change in the infrastructure of hospitals. Fair price medicine shops and diagnostic centres have been set up. Procedures like dialysis are performed at lower costs. Pacemakers and stents are given for free.

As a result, patients from neighbouring States and countries are coming to Bengal in large numbers, thus increasing the pressure on State hospitals. 27,000 new beds have been added.

The CM urged doctors to provide service with a smile. She also instructed the administration to prevent untoward incidents of vandalism and violence at hospitals in the State.

 

West Bengal Biodiversity Board: Ensuring preservation of the State’s flora

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on West Bengal Biodiversity Board: Ensuring preservation of the State’s flora

The West Bengal Biodiversity Board (WBBB) has three primary objectives: conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of biodiversity, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the biodiversity, in addition to establishment of proprietary rights and restraining bio-piracy.

Some of the major achievements of WBBB are as follows:

  • Facilitating constitution of 350 Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) at block, municipality and municipal corporation levels; more are in the offing
  • Through the BMCs, constitution of 120 People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR) for documentation of biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge and practices; more are being constituted
  • Documentation of traditional rice varieties (TRV) and registering them in the names of farmers’ communities; so far, 110 TRVs have been documented, of which 12 have been registered 51 have been applied for
  • Awareness generation programmes, including seminars, nature studies and field training, and special ‘bio tours’ for school students
  • Bringing commercial establishments accessing bio-resources from the State under the purview of ‘Access and Benefit Sharing’ of the Biological Diversity Act; so far, 100 commercial establishments brought under purview, and 15 of the shared benefits, amounting to Rs 13,39,193, accumulated in the Biodiversity Fund of the State Government
  • Publications: 10 field guide books in Bengali, Tradable Bioresources of West Bengal, three People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR) preparation manuals in BengaliSource: Departmental Budget

Sabuj Sathi – Symbol of empowerment of students in Bengal

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Sabuj Sathi – Symbol of empowerment of students in Bengal

During one of her district tours in 2015, a young boy had asked West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee: “I study in school; you have started the Kanyashree scholarship for girls, why is there no scheme for boys?”

This had planted a seed in her head. The thought has at last led to a happy conclusion: ‘Sabuj Sathi’ – a project wherein students of classes IX to XII are given bicycles by the State Government.

This beautiful name for the project came to the Chief Minister’s mind while on her way from Darjeeling to Bagdogra Airport. The rain-drenched sylvan mountains piqued her creativity; she began penning poems for children. Thus was born the name ‘Sabuj Sathi’ – ‘Sabuj’, the word for ‘green’ or environment-friendly and ‘Sathi’ means ‘companion’, hence ‘Sabuj Sathi’ or ‘environemnt-friendly companion.’

The Chief Minister has created the logo for the project as well. It consists of a young boy running, with two spinning bicycle wheels alongside his legs. 70 lakh cycles have been distributed so far. The scheme also bagged an award for e-governance from the Centre.

For more details, visit the website for the scheme.

Bengal CM slams Centre over LPG price hike

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Bengal CM slams Centre over LPG price hike

Coming down heavily on the BJP, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said the soaring prices of essential commodities will result in the middle-class being badly hit which will, in turn, become a question of their basic sustenance.

“The hike in fuel price will affect the kitchen while the rise in the price of petrol and diesel will hit the transport sector badly,” she told newsmen on Saturday. The Chief Minister also said that the price of cooking gas has skyrocketed without any rhyme or reason.

“Things are going beyond the reach of the middle-class. How can they make their both ends meet? How can they sustain,” she said and added: “But the Centre is not taking any measure to bring down the prices of petrol and diesel and that of the cooking gas.”

Mamata Banerjee has said over and again that the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel are affecting the transport sector badly. “The Centre is totally indifferent towards this problem faced by the common people,” she maintained.

Focus on development at Bengal CM’s administrative meeting in the Hills

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Focus on development at Bengal CM’s administrative meeting in the Hills

On Wednesday, May 30, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held an administrative review meeting of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. Emphasising on the development roadmap, the Chief Minister advised the state government authorities in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts to focus on the water supply, sewerage, construction and upkeep of roads and waste management.

Speaking at the administrative review meeting of the two districts in Kalimpong, she said: “Darjeeling and Kalimpong have immense potential. There is unmatched natural beauty here. It is your duty to present a clean and green Darjeeling to the tourists who visit these places. For the next two years, we should concentrate on four key areas — water, sewerage, roads and waste management.”

She asked the GTA and Hill Municipalities to sit with the Municipal and PHE departments in Kolkata during the next 10 days and work out a consolidated plan to resolve the drinking water crisis in the Hills.

She also insisted that henceforth funds for construction of houses of the beneficiaries through the 15 development boards should go directly to their bank accounts in two instalments. The Chief Minister spoke on the new avenues for employment generation for the youth and stressed on skill development to impart training in beautician courses, hospitality, as tourist guides and in the medical field as well.

Speaking of the immense potential in the field of tourism, she added: “Tourism industry is one of the most important industries of Bengal. We are giving a lot of emphasis to North Bengal as this place has a lot to offer. All projects have to be finished on time.”

She asked the state Tourism department and the GTA to renovate the Swiss Cottages in Mirik. De-siltation of the Mirik Lake, landscaping including gardens and pathways around the area is on the anvil. Inquiring about the progress of work at Tiger Hill, she stated that the gallery needs to be renovated. Around 19 tourist cottages are said to come up at Tiger Hill in Darjeeling.

The Chief Minister also asked the Power department to look into the electricity problems faced by Lava, Loleygaon and Reshyap in the Kalimpong district.

A proposal has also been given for six new police stations in Darjeeling and three in Kalimpong district. A new administrative building is being constructed in Kalimpong as well. Around 2 acre of land has been allotted for the Police Lines and correctional home in Kalimpong. Banerjee also inquired about the 100 day work scheme in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.

Around 500 schemes are underway in the Hills currently. Land right documents (pattas) will be handed over to 271 beneficiaries from the forest villages of Kalimpong on Thursday at Lohapool. The CM also inaugurated a number of projects on Thursday.

Synergy MSME to bring in big investments in the MSME sector

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Synergy MSME to bring in big investments in the MSME sector

In a bid to attract big investments in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, the Bengal Government is going to organise a major business summit in September, titled ‘Synergy MSME’.

It will certainly be a big boost to the small business sector of the State. As it is, the MSME sector of Bengal has been earning a lot of praise ever since the Trinamool Congress Government came to power, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made it a mission to promote this sector in the interest of the ordinary citizens across the State.

‘Synergy’ is also the name of a series of successful MSME investment meets organised by the State Government in various districts.

Source: Bartaman

Much better infrastructure leading to more tourist arrivals in the Sundarbans

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Much better infrastructure leading to more tourist arrivals in the Sundarbans

With the infrastructure being ramped up rapidly by the Trinamool Congress Government, the number tourists visiting Sundarbans has gone up too. The region now sees many more tourists round the year, while earlier tourist arrivals peaked during certain periods only.

With better and more roads, culverts (for channelling water under roads), watchtowers, better protected areas, beach development and other work being done, the mangrove haven has become more attractive. With the hike in tourists, naturally the local economy has also improved. Better means of livelihood are making lives easier for the locals. Things like better roads and rest sheds are a boon for the local people too.

Not just betterment infrastructure, there has been improvement in the system of inclement weather alerts too, which is beneficial to tourists and locals alike.

At the same time, infrastructure for water transport has also been improved. The conditions of the river jetties have been improved. Another step taken for improvement of connectivity is the construction of bridges, linking different islands in the delta.

To draw more tourists, every year, in August and September, the State Government organises the Hilsa Festival there.

The above facts are borne out by both Government officials and tour operators. The latter expressed a lot of hope for tourism during a recent tourism fair organised by the State Government in Kolkata. Among the popular places in the Sundarbans are Gosaba Hamilton Bunglow, Pirkhali, Dobaki Watchtower, Sajnekhali Watchtower, Sudhanyakhali Watchtower among others.

Source: Millennium Post