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.
It is a well-known fact that Bengal has one of the most successful policies regarding the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSM) sector. As a result of the Trinamool Congress Government’s comprehensive policy, small-scale enterprises are thriving in the State.
The success of the State’s MSME sector has been acknowledged by the Central Government earlier too. Now, another report has done the same.
The total amount of loans extended to medium enterprises in Bengal during the 2015-16 fiscal was Rs 2,659 crore, which increased to Rs 5,851 crore during the 2016-17 fiscal. The number of people the loans were extended to were 1,25,457 and 4,36,208, respectively.
The Central Government’s scheme for MSMEs is divided into three categories, according to the amount of loan extended. From the lowest to the highest, the categories are Shishu, Kishore and Tarun for loans upto Rs 50,000, upto Rs 5 lakh and upto Rs 10 lakh, respectively.
Under the Shishu category, for the last few years, Bengal has been coming second. Under the Kishore category, during the 2015-16 fiscal, loans worth Rs 2,377 crore to 1,18,927 people. During the 2016-17 fiscal, the number loan-takers increased by 105 per cent, which increased to 348 per cent of the new number during the 2017-18 fiscal.
These numbers how that under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, MSMEs are headed for a brighter future.
Source: Bartaman
The State Agriculture Department has decided to tie up with two State universities to develop methods for increasing the productivity of the varieties of aromatic rice indigenous to Bengal.
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya and Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya will provide assistance to the department.
After getting geographical indication (GI) tags for gobindobhog and tulaipanji rice, which, to a large extent, was the result of the active encouragement of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Government has been exploring a variety of ways for commercial exploitation of the varieties. Other indigenous varieties like kalonunia are also being considered.
Tulaipanji and kalonunia are mostly cultivated in the northern districts of the State while 70 per cent of gobindobhog is produced in Raina in Purba Bardhaman.
Research will be conducted on whether the varieties of rice can be grown in newer regions, to increase total productivity and to benefit local economies. These varieties are already being exported in moderate amounts. Large-scale production would also increase exports manifold. Cheaper methods of cultivation would also be researched.
Source: Millennium Post
A few months back, we had written about the State Government planning to start water taxi services on the Hooghly.
Two water taxis have been bought for the purpose, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has named after two of the prominent schemes she has devised – Sishu Sathi and Save Life. The services will be inaugurated soon.
Both of these schemes have been highly successful. While Sishu Sathi arranges for free heart operations for children, Save Life Safe Drive attempts to inculcate proper driving habits and teach people to follow road rules.
The Transport Department will run the vessels. Previously, the Chief Minister had named other projects of the Transport Department too, including Gatidhara, Jaladhara and the Pathasathi app.
The water taxis will be operating on two routes. One will be operating from Millennium Park Ghat to Dakshineswar via Belur Math while the other will be operating from Millennium Park Ghat to Belur Math via Dakshineswar.
There are eight seats in each of the water taxis. Six passengers will be carried on each trip, with the two remaining seats to be occupied by the operator and a safety officer. The operator and the safety officer will both be trained personnel, and will oversee the safety and security of passengers.
There are many places of interest along the banks of the Hooghly, both on the northern and southern sides of Millennium Park. If everything go as planned, more water taxis will be introduced, for trips from Millennium Park to Princep Ghat and Kidderpore.
Source: Millennium Post
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.
Much to the delight of forest lovers, the State Forest Department, for the first time, has decided to keep selective portions of various forests in northern Bengal open for tourists during the monsoon season, that is, from mid-June to mid-September.
Usually, the entire forest areas remain closed for tourists from June 16 to September 15. On demand from many tour operators, resort owners and transport operators, who have in turn listened to requests by tourists, the department has decided to keep certain areas open.
There is something special about the natural beauty of forests during the rainy season and many tourists are keen to witness this. The green of the forests acquires a special glow during this time of the year.
Kalipur Jungle Camp, Dhupjhora Eco Tourism Camp under Gorumara National Park, Panjora Jungle Camp, Murti Jungle Camp, Hornbill Jungle Camp and Chukchuki Watchtower, which are also located in close proximity of Gorumara, will be kept open, including the route in Chapramari forest from the entrance gate to the watchtower.
The Dakshin Khayerbari Tiger Rescue Centre and Mendabari Jungle Camp under Jaldapara National Park and areas like Sikiajhora Eco Tourism Centre, Poro Eco Park, Buxa Fort, Jayanti, etc. under Buxa forest will also remain open for tourists.
It may be mentioned that the season from June to September is also the mating season for many animals. Hence, the department would ensure that no disturbance is created for the animals. Therefore, no jeep safari or elephant safari will be allowed inside the forests.
A number of species of animals like tigers, rhinoceros and elephants make their habitat in the forests of the Dooars. Other animals include various types of deer, bison, birds and reptiles.
Source: Millennium Post
The State Police wants to introduce more modern policing methods. Towards that end, it has planned to completely re-do its website as well as remodel its social media approach.
The website is being completely overhauled. The various district police administrations as well as the State’s railway police administrations will be linked to the website. All information will be updated, including important cases solved and the list of most wanted criminals.
As for social media (Facebook and Twitter especially), the plan is to regularly post updates regarding various activities and fight fake news actively. The latter is becoming increasingly important in the field of cyber-policing.
The idea is also to examine the ways Kolkata Police has successfully built up a large following on its social media accounts and implement certain relevant ideas.
Source: Ei Samay
The State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister has announced the setting up of a first-of-its-kind autism township project in Bengal.
At the press conference, he also said investment proposals worth Rs 39,000 crore have come in the urban development and infrastructure sector during the just-concluded Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS).
According to the minister, the autism township will not only be the first such in India but in the entire world. There will be a hospital, a residential complex, a school, a day-care centre, a conference hall and training facilities, all pertaining to autism, under one roof.
The township will come up on 50 acres in Shirakole on Diamond Harbour Road, near Usthi in the South 24 Parganas district. It will be constructed by a private company at an investment of Rs 600 crore, and will be ready within four years.
The joint managing managing director of the company has said that it is also planning to set up a college which will churn out qualified professionals working in the area of autism.
Source: Millennium Post
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a strong letter to the Union Ministry of Steel against the Central Government’s decision to shift the headquarters of Hindustan Steelworks Limited, a profitable PSU, from Kolkata to New Delhi.
Not just that, there are also plan to lay off a large number of workers, including many permanent ones. Naturally, they are very worried and the people’s Chief Minister has not held back at expressing her deep discontent at this decision.
The issue was earlier raised by Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha too but no satisfactory answer came from the Central Government. The Labour Commissioner had also hauled up the management of the company for the decision of laying off workers, but the management has not responded.
Not just writing a letter, the Chief Minister has instructed her party’s MPs to again raise the issue in Parliament.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a strong letter to the Union Commerce & Industry Ministry regarding the Central Government’s decision to sell off Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a company with a long and illustrious history.
Though it was not doing well for some time, in the last few years it has turned around quite a bit. The company earned profits during the 2016-17 fiscal, which almost doubled during the 2017-18 fiscal (an increase of 97.5 per cent). In this state of things, what is needed is more help from the Centre rather than selling it off.
Hence, the Chief Minister has written in the letter that the decision to sell it off should be immediately taken back. She has also written that the Bengal Government would provide all manner of help to build Bengal Chemicals up into a Maharatna company.
The company also has units in Mumbai and Kanpur. The Centre had previously too tried to sell the company. It was mainly Mamata Banerjee’s efforts which prevented that from happening.
Another point raised by the Chief Minister in her letter is the fact that the Kolkata High Court is yet to decide on the case filed by the workers and unions of the company against the Centre’s decision to sell it off.
Then, the company is engaged in manufacturing fair-priced essential goods for the common people. Hence, it can never be termed a ‘low-priority enterprise’, as the Centre has signified it.
Mamata Banerjee in her letter has also written about the illustrious history of the company and its crucial role in the movement for Indian-made goods during the colonial period.
All in all, the Chief Minister, through coherent arguments, has clearly indicated in the letter that it is an absolutely wrong decision to sell off Bengal Chemicals, as it is a profitable company now.
