Tag: West Bengal CM

Centre must declassify files on Netaji: Mamata Banerjee

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today demanded that the Central government must declassify all the files in its possession concerning Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. She was addressing the press after going through the 64 declassified files at Kolkata Police Museum.

After her announcement on September 11, 2015 that all files concerning Netaji in the possession of West Bengal government will be declassified in a week, CDs of the digitised files were handed over today to the family members of Netaji and the press. The files will be open for public viewing from Monday.

WB CM said, “We all know the birth date of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. We do not know about his death. We want the truth to come out.”

Maintaining that she has “fulfilled our responsibility to the people”, she urged the Centre to declassify the files in their possession. “We have made the beginning. People must know about the final days of Netaji. He must get his due recognition,” she said.

“If the Centre has nothing to hide, why is it not declassifying the files? We want to know the truth. We believe in transparency and accountability,” the CM added.

WB CM also assured that law and order situation, if any, will be taken care of by the government. She termed it a mere excuse and stressed that Centre must declassify Netaji files “for the sake of the nation”.

She added that the Centre can solve bilateral issues if it wants. “Why would relations with other countries be spoiled if we honour our great icons who fought for our freedom?” she wondered.

West Bengal govt declassifies Netaji files

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All 64 files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose were declassified today and put on display at Kolkata Police Museum, as per the wishes of WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee.

The Chief Minister had announced on September 11, 2015 that 64 files on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in possession of West Bengal government will be brought to public domain from September 18. She also announced to digitize the files dating from 1937 to 1947.

“A total 64 files are with us. There may be one or two more. After reviewing all the files, we have decided to put them in public domain from next Friday,” WB CM had announced at Nabanna.

A DVD of the 64 digitised files was handed over to the members of Netaji’s family. The archives can be accessed by common public from Monday onwards on first come, first serve basis.

“We want to maintain transparency and accountability. We don’t feel that there is anything related to internal security in the files. Everybody wants to know what happened to Netaji. He was a national icon. We know about his date of birth. We have no idea about his death. People deserve to know about his last day,” the Chief Minister had said.

WB CM tweeted:

WB CM launches new forest cottages at Jayanti

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The call of the mountains. Lush green forest. The glittering waters of Jayanti river at sunrise. An encounter with bisons and deer (may be elephants and tiger too, if you are lucky). And butterflies – the main attraction of Jayanti forests. The butterflies are the reason why Buxa-Jayanti forests are called Queen of Dooars.

If you want to escape into the lap of nature, you must visit Jayanti. The newly renovated forest bunglow at Jayanti was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday. She also launched seven newly-built cottages at the Jayanti forest. Online booking of these cottages will be made available by the Forest Department soon.

In a fire accident in 2011, the forest bungalow at Jayanti was destroyed. WB CM Mamata Banerjee, during her visit to Dooars had instructed that the bungalow be renovated. Clearly, the newly opened cottages and bungalow will boost tourism in Dooars ahead of the festive season.

WB CM forms a development board for Mangar community

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West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday announced formation of a development board for the Mangar community residing in the state and sanctioned funds for the Lepcha Board.

“The Hill communities are very close to my heart. Today I have announced setting up of a development board for the Mangar community,” Ms Banerjee said on a Facebook post during her tour to Darjeeling district.

She said funds have been sanctioned for construction of night schools, hostels for girls, jhora improvement schemes, apart from several other projects for the Lepcha Board, which would now be known as the West Bengal Mayal Lyang Lepcha Development Board.

“Today, I have handed over to them a cheque of Rs 10 crore for construction of ‘Rong Lee’ houses for Lepcha families. 2,000 such houses have already been completed and (work on) 1,000 more are going on, which will be completed very soon,” the chief minister said.

Since its formation, the Lepcha Board has actively worked for development of housing, education, livelihood, sanitation, tourism and preservation and propagation of heritage, arts and crafts and language of the community, she said.

As a part of the ‘Clean Darjeeling, Green Darjeeling’ mission, the government has sanctioned 22,500 toilets for various Hill communities involving a substantial funding.

“We have taken a decision to build two 100-seater Youth Hostels – one for Lepcha Board and another for Tamang Board at Rs. 5 crore each. The hostels will be equipped with solar lighting, solar heating, rainwater harvesting and other modern eco-friendly amenities,” Ms Banerjee added.

Tamang community confers the title ‘Nalsang Dolma’ (Goddess of Light) on WB CM

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On the invitation of the Tamang Development and Cultural Board, West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee was present in their First Foundation Day Celebration in Kalimpong on September 15, 2015.

The Board was formed by West Bengal Government in July, 2014.

It was a very colourful show with thousands of participants comprising various indigenous people of the hills turning out in their traditional attire and performing their traditional arts.

The Tamang community conferred on WB CM the title “Nalsang Dolma” (The Goddess of Light).

“I feel humbled with their love and affection,” WB CM tweeted in response.

“Our government is providing support for building houses, livelihood, preservation of language and culture and development of handicrafts and traditional art forms of these people of the hills,” she further wrote on her Facebook page.

On the occasion, WB CM handed over a cheque of Rs 10 crore to Tamang Board as first installment for construction of 1000 houses.

The Chief Minister also released funds to Sherpa Board and to Bhutia Board for construction of houses for Sherpa and Bhutia communities, respectively.

Darjeeling will remain in Bengal: WB CM

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee while addressing a gathering in Kalimpong said she was ready to lay down her life for the Hills but would not allow the Hills to separate from Bengal.

The message was loud and clear. “Mera jindagi pahar ke liye barbad karney ke liye hum taihar hain, lekin hum pahar chorney ke liye, torney ke liye taihar nehi hain” (I am prepared to lay down my life for the Hills but will not leave the Hills or allow the separation of Hills), said the chief minister.

She was addressing a large gathering in Kalimpong on the occasion of the foundation day of Tamang development and cultural board. “I do not come to the Hills to indulge in politics. The Hills have not witnessed any developmental activity for a long time. I come to the Hills to ensure development,” said Banerjee.

WB CM also said, “The Mangar community has been demanding a development board for long. Let me work out how we can resolve their problem.”

“I have come to the Hills more than 70 times. However, I do not come to the Hills just to enjoy the view and the weather. I come here when the people of the Hills are in trouble. My heart is with the Hills. When the Hills cry I cry, when the Hills smile, I smile,” said the CM.

Pepsico to invest Rs 500 Cr in Bengal: Labour Minister

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World renowned company Pepsico is investing in Bengal on a large scale.

The company has decided to invest Rs 500 crore to set up a large manufacturing unit at Asansol, Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak said.

As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, Pepsico has been allotted 40 acres of land already at Dharma mouza. Employment opportunities for 2500 people have been created initially, with scope of further employment in the future.

Labour Minister said that at the initiative of West Bengal CM, the government now gives speedy land clearance to investment proposals. He said the departments of land & land reforms and industry are coordinating in ensuring ease of doing business in the State.

Companies like Pepsico are investing in Bengal because of the new Industry Policy formulated at the initiative of WB CM, the minister opined.

 

This is based on a report published in Sangbad Pratidin on 15 September, 2015

The image is a representative one

Bengal shows the way in coastal security

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West Bengal has yet again emerged as a national model, this time in coastal security.

In a post on her Facebook page, WB CM Mamata Banerjee said:

“Our State has been complimented for extensive setting up of coastal police stations and other various measures for effective security management of our coastal areas.

It was stated that Bengal is one of the best performing States in regard to coastal security.”

Since taking charge in 2011, the State Government has taken up the task of setting up a comprehensive coastal security mechanism including setting up specialised coastal police stations to secure the state against any threats.

She also tweeted:

WB CM launches ‘Muktir Alo’ – Rehabilitation scheme for sex workers

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today launched ‘Muktir Alo’, a rehabilitation scheme for sex workers and women rescued from human trafficking.

The proposed scheme would help them to return to the mainstream, Minister for Women and Child Development, Dr Shashi Panja had earlier said in the Assembly.

She said that the registered persons would be given house rent and transport allowance during the training period. The period of training would be six months, she said.

During the launch programme, WB CM said that her government was committed to working for the upliftment of the marginalised section of the society.

“We launched ‘Muktir Alo’ initiative for those who are downtrodden and neglected by society. It is our responsibility. We have also set up a development board for transgenders,” she said.

“We have set up a Little Star board for the welfare of little people. We are working for welfare of backward communities,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee tweeted in the morning:

Teachers and students will take Bengal forward: WB CM at Shiksha Ratna ceremony

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that teachers, students and youths will steer Bengal on the path of progress in future.

She was speaking at the Shaiksha Ratna award ceremony where felicitated one hundred teachers from across the state and awarded 42 schools.

The government launched the Shiksha Ratna awards for school teachers in 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, WB CM said, “Mothers give birth. Teachers instill values and education. Teachers take lessons from the past, educate the present and shape the future.”

She reiterated that her government was committed to developing Bengal as an educational hub. “14 new universities and 45 new colleges have been set up in Bengal in the last four years. 67 model schools have been set up, several schools upgraded,” she said.

“We started Kanyashree scheme for empowerment of girls. 27 girls have been registered. We are proud of them,” WB CM added.

Highlighting that Bengal has 100% coverage of mid-day meals in schools, she said, “Till 2011 there were only 1300 medical seats in Bengal. We added 1400 new seats in four years.”

The Chief Minister also talked about the success of Bengal in Nirmal Bharat scheme and Swachh Vidyalaya initiative.

Mamata Banerjee had earlier tweeted: