Tag: West Bengal CM

State Government laying emphasis on biofertilizers

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In order to increase productivity and to protect people from the ill-effects of chemical fertilizers, the State Biotechnology Department has taken up a host of new initiatives, emphasising more on the use of biofertilizers.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has laid a lot of stress on improving the standards of life for farmers. She has announced lots of new projects in this regard.

The Biotechnology Department has already formed various committees for the smooth implementation of various projects. One of the main purposes of the department is to increase the productivity of various plants by administering biofertilizers and others environment-friendly manures.

There will be scientists and research fellows who will carry out various researches on how biofertilizers can be used to increase the productivity of various plants and vegetables. For example, a banana tree gives fruits once a year; the department would carry out research on how that particular plant can give fruits three times a year. The scientists will also conduct tissue culture to increase productivity. According to the Biotechnology Minister, the Department’s new initiatives will also provide employment to many youth.

The department will also carry out research on how to increase the productivity of cattle. The State Government will provide assistance to those who rear cattle. The research will be conducted on how to increase the productivity of milk in cows.

The Biotechnology Department plans to open a unit in all the districts to provide technical assistance to farmers on how to increase productivity. The department is committed to ensure that the people can get vegetables, fruits and food grains free from toxic substances at the markets. A special emphasis of the department would be on how to increase the productivity in the comparatively unfertile districts of Bankura, Birbhum and Purulia.

The Biotechnology department is also providing assistance to other departments like Agriculture and Pisciculture to augment production.

It may be mentioned here that the State Government is going to set up four biotechnology hubs – in Bardhaman, Bankura, Haldia and Kalimpong. This will prove immensely beneficial to those involved in farming.

 

জৈব সারের ওপর গুরুত্ব আরোপ করছে রাজ্য সরকার

উৎপাদনশীলতা বৃদ্ধি করতে এবং রাসায়নিক সারের মন্দ প্রভাব থেকে সাধারণ মানুষকে রক্ষা করার জন্য  রাজ্য বায়োটেকনোলজি বিভাগ নতুন একটি উদ্যোগ গ্রহণ করেছে, তা হল জৈব সার ব্যবহারের ওপর গুরুত্ব আরোপ করেছে।

মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় ক্ষমতায় আসার পর কৃষকদের জীবনযাত্রার মান উন্নত করার ওপর যথেষ্ট জোর দিয়েছেন। এই মর্মে বেশ কিছু প্রকল্পও ঘোষণা করেছেন তিনি।

বায়োটেকনোলজি বিভাগের ইতিমধ্যে বিভিন্ন প্রকল্প বাস্তবায়নের জন্য বিভিন্ন কমিটি গঠন করেছে। বিভাগের প্রধান উদ্দেশ্য হল জৈব ও পরিবেশবান্ধব সার ব্যবহারের মাধ্যমে ফসলের উৎপাদনশীলতা বৃদ্ধি।

উৎপাদনশীলতা কিভাবে বাড়ানো যায় তার ওপর একটি গবেষণাও করবে এই বিভাগ। গরু দুধ উৎপাদনশীলতা কিভাবে বাড়ানো সম্ভব তার ওপরও গবেষণা করা হবে। উৎপাদনশীলতা বৃদ্ধির জন্য বিজ্ঞানীরা টিস্যু কালচার করবেন। জৈবপ্রযুক্তি মন্ত্রীর মতে দপ্তরের এই নতুন উদ্যোগের মাধ্যমে অনেক জুবকের কর্মসংস্থান হবে।

ফসলের উৎপাদন কিভাবে বৃদ্ধি করা সম্ভব সেই সংক্রান্ত কিছু কারিগরি শিক্ষা কৃষকদের প্রদান করার জন্য একটি ইউনিট খোলার পরিকল্পনা করছে বায়োটেকনোলজি বিভাগ। মানুষ যাতে টাটকা ও টক্সিক ফ্রি শাক-সবজি, ফল পেতে পারেন সে ব্যাপারও নিশ্চিত করেছে এই দপ্তর। বাঁকুড়া, বীরভূম, পুরুলিয়া এইসব অনুর্বর জেলাগুলির উৎপাদনশীলতা বৃদ্ধির ক্ষেত্রে বিশেষ জোর দিচ্ছে এই বিভাগ।

এছাড়াও বায়োটেকনোলজি বিভাগ উৎপাদন বৃদ্ধি করার জন্য কৃষি, মত্স্য ও অন্যান্য বিভাগকেও সাহায্য করছে।

উল্লেখ্য, রাজ্য সরকার চারটি জৈবপ্রযুক্তি হাব তৈরি করছে – বর্ধমান, বাঁকুড়া, হলদিয়া এবং কালিম্পং-এ। এই হাবগুলি চাষবাসের সঙ্গে যারা জড়িত তাদের কাজে অত্যন্ত সাহায্য করবে।

West Bengal now no. 1 in small savings

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In terms of small savings, after four years, the State of West Bengal has left Uttar Pradesh behind to become number one in the country.

This is a significant achievement for the State, the result of the economic policies of the Mamata Banerjee Government. As a consequence of this, the State is going to get several advantages, like the ability to borrow more money from the market for developmental purposes, and to get more foreign investment.

As per the latest data from the Ministry of Finance, after remaining second behind Uttar Pradesh for four consecutive financial years from 2011-12, in 2015-16, West Bengal toppled Uttar Pradesh to occupy the top position, with the total small savings amounting to Rs 8,362.78 crore. This amount is almost Rs 2,500 crore more than that of the second-placed Uttar Pradesh.

Over the last few years, encouraged by the people-centric policies and facilities brought in by the Trinamool Congress Government, the people of the State have been steadily increasing their investments in small savings instruments like national savings certificate (NSC), recurring deposit, Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), etc.

According to West Bengal Small Savings Agents’ Association, the State is likely to keep up this trend in 2016-17. Already, in April and May combined, the State has accumulated Rs 200 core in small savings.

 

Image: emkayconsultancy.in

 

স্বল্প সঞ্চয়ে শীর্ষস্থানে পশ্চিম বাংলা

স্বল্প সঞ্চয়ে উত্তরপ্রদেশকে পিছনে ফেলে শীর্ষস্থান দখল করল পশ্চিম বাংলা। প্রায় চার বছর পর এই সাফল্য অর্জন করল রাজ্য।

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সরকারের অর্থনৈতিক নীতির এই সাফল্য নিশ্চিত ভাবেই রাজ্যের পক্ষে ইতিবাচক। ফলস্বরূপ, এই সঞ্চয়ের ওপর নির্ভর করেই রাজ্য বাজার থেকে উন্নয়নের কাজ করার জন্য ঋণ নিতে পারে। আরো কিছু বিদেশি বিনিয়োগও আসছে।

কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের অর্থমন্ত্রকের পক্ষ থেকে সর্বশেষ প্রকাশিত তথ্য অনুযায়ী ২০১১-’১২ অর্থবর্ষ থেকে ধারাবাহিক ভাবে স্বল্প সঞ্চয় ক্ষেত্রে প্রতিবার উত্তরপ্রদেশের পিছনে থাকলেও ২০১৫-’১৬ অর্থবর্ষে তাকে টপকে দেশের মধ্যে শীর্ষস্থান দখল করেছে রাজ্য। ২০১৫-’১৬ অর্থবর্ষে রাজ্যের কশেত্রে এই সঞ্চয়ের পরিমান বেড়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে ৮,৩৬২,৮৬ কোটি টাকা। অর্থাৎ এই বছর রাজ্যে ২,৫০০ কোটি টাকা বেশি জমা পড়েছে।

গত কয়েক বছর ধরে, তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস পরিচালিত সরকারের আনা বিভিন্ন নীতি ও সুযোগ-সুবিধা দ্বারা উৎসাহিত হয়ে জাতীয় সঞ্চয়পত্র (এনএসসি), আবর্তক আমানত, কিষাণ বিকাশ পত্রের(KVP) মত ক্ষুদ্র সঞ্চয় ক্ষেত্রে তাদের বিনিয়োগের পরিমান বৃদ্ধি করেছে।

ওয়েস্ট বেঙ্গল স্মল সেভিংস এজেন্ট অ্যাসোসিয়েশনের মতে ২০১৬-’১৭ অর্থবর্ষেঅ রাজ্য স্বল্প সঞ্চয়ের ক্ষেত্রে এই প্রবণতা বজায় থাকবে। ইতিমধ্যেই এপ্রিল ও মে মাস মিলিয়ে রাজ্যে প্রায় ২০০ কোটি টাকা স্বল্প সঞ্চয় খাতে জমা পড়েছে।

 

SS Roy speaks on the Private Members’ Resolution on the review of death penalty

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I have two points to make. Mr D Raja has attracted the attention of the nation through this Private Members’ Resolution, which is very sensitive and humane, in view of the fact that many countries in the world have started reviewing whether death sentence should continue or not.

Now, Sir, what happened in our country? Some of my Samajwadi Party friends have mentioned about how our freedom fighters were hanged during the time of the British. I don’t want to travel back in history. But we have seen that Maharaja Nanda Kumar, who revolted against Warren Hastings, was hanged in a case of forgery of documents. This has also happened in our country.

Now, from that period we have travelled ahead. Now, Sir, the time has come because our apex court, our Hon’ble Supreme Court, has also opened its doors in the wee hours to review or to look into the decision-making process of the President of India whether he has considered the clemency petition of an offender who has been convicted with death punishment. So this situation has arisen, Sir. In the background of that situation, when different countries in the world have started reviewing the death penalty, I would request the Government through you, Sir, that, keeping in mind that the Supreme Court has also said, and with an eminent lawyers like Ravi Shankar Prasad Ji and the Hon’ble Law Minister present here, in three to four cases that in the rarest of rare cases only this should be applicable, possibly we should go beyond that and this matter should be referred to the Law Commission for an appropriate review of the entire gamut of the situation arising out of which we are discussing the continuance or discontinuance of death penalty.

Sir, I would urge upon the Government through you to refer the matter to the Law Commission in order to review the entire thing and make its recommendation so that this Parliament can discuss this issue in future again and come to a conclusive decision.

Thank you, Sir.

 

SS Roy’s Point of Order on the powers of the NITI Aayog

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Article 280 has been referred to regarding the Finance Commission, and its expiry at the end of every five years. We know all the modalities. Previously, the other things were being done by the Planning Commission, now it is being done by another extra-Constitutional authority, that is, NITI Aayog. Most of the financial powers have been usurped by the Finance Ministry, and they are allocating the funds to the States at their whims and fancies. I want to ask whether this system should continue.

Trinamool slams Centre for making Aadhaar mandatory for receiving govt benefits

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Trinamool Congress, along with the Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal and the Janata Dal (United), today gave a Notice of Suspension of business in the Rajya Sabha to take up a discussion on the issue of stoppage of services to people who do not have Aadhaar cards.

In Lok Sabha, the Chief Whip of the party, Kalyan Banerjee raised the issue during Zero Hour.

Speaking on the issue, the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said, “This Govt talks of cooperative federalism but in action it bypasses the opinion of States. Across the country, people are suffering. They cannot get various services and facilities like pension, LPG and kerosene.”

Kalyan Banerjee demanded in Lok Sabha that the mandatory provision for Aadhaar card should be waived until there is 100 per cent coverage of Aadhaar in the country. He said in West Bengal over one crore people were yet to receive Aadhaar cards and were thus being denied benefits of various schemes.

Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy reminded the government that the apex court of the country, in a judgment in October, 2015, had said Aadhar should be voluntary and not compulsory.

West Bengal Chief Minister has been vocal on the issue of Aadhaar. In West Bengal, 40 per cent people are yet to receive Aadhaar cards and the Chief Minister has written several times to the Centre not to make Aadhaar mandatory unless 100 per cent coverage is achieved.

Continued protests by Trinamool and other parties led to the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha more than once.

WB CM seeks debt relief from Centre

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Seeking loan waiver and adequate Central funds for West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday met the Prime and Union Finance Minister.

“The government should do some plan to restructure the debt. Otherwise all States in the country will be heavily debt-ridden,” she told reporters.

Debt stress

“We have ₹53,000-crore budget and we have to pay ₹60,000 crore for loan payment. This is not possible,” she said. Discussing various issues concerning the State, she also raised the flood situation in the State. “The State is witnessing heavy rains, causing road blocks and damage. Monsoon is on and it will continue for two more months,” the CM said.

Referring to the Central flood relief and disaster fund, she said “Last time we had demanded about ₹9,000 crore but the Centre gave only ₹600 crore and that also in phases.”

Aadhar issue

WB CM also added that only 40 per cent people in West Bengal have Aadhar cards and unless it is 100 per cent it should not be linked to DBT.

On Aadhar issue, she also directed party MPs to raise it strongly at all fora and asked the government “not to destroy the fundamental rights of the people”.

 

কেন্দ্রের কাছে রাজ্যের দাবিদাওয়া নিয়ে সরব হলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

ঋণ মকুব ও বরাদ্দ কেন্দ্রের কাছ থেকে রাজ্যের বকেয়া পাওনার দাবি নিয়ে প্রধানমন্ত্রী এবং কেন্দ্রীয় অর্থমন্ত্রীর সাথে দেখা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তিনি বলেন, “কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের উচিত ঋণের বোঝায় জর্জরিত রাজ্যগুলিকে সাহায্য করা।”

“আমাদের বাজেট ৫৩০০০ কোটি টাকা কিন্তু ঋণ মেটাতেই দিতে হয় ৬০০০০ কোটি টাকা। এই ভাবে চলতে পারে না।”

তিনি উত্তরবঙ্গের বন্যা পরিস্থিতির প্রসঙ্গও তোলেন। “গতবছর বন্যাত্রাণের জন্য আমরা ৯০০০ কোটি টাকা চেয়েছিলাম কিন্তু কেন্দ্র আমাদের মাত্র ৬০০ কোটি টাকা বরাদ্দ করে, তও ধাপে ধাপে,” বলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

আধার প্রসঙ্গে তিনি বলেন পশ্চিমবঙ্গে এখনো ৪০% মানুষের আধার কার্ড নেই। এই পরিস্থিতে এতগুলো মানুষকে পরিষেবা থেকে বঞ্চিত করা উচিত না। ১০০% মানুষ আধার কার্ড না পেলে সেটি যেন বাধ্যতামূলক না করা হয়।

State provides relief material to 1.20 lakh flood affected people

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The state government has provided relief materials to around 1.20 lakh people who are affected due to heavy inundation in four districts in North Bengal.

According to the sources in the state disaster management department, around 20 blocks and areas under three municipalities were affected due to heavy inundation in Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar as well as the plain lands in Darjeeling district.

Around 84,000 people were affected in ten blocks in Cooch Behar. The blocks in Cooch Behar where around 7,000 houses were partly and fully damaged include Dinhata, Mekhliganj and Mathabhanga, sources said. The only block in Alipurduar that is affected is Kumargram where around 200 people were affected and to whom the relief of the state government has reached, sources said.

The seven blocks including Mal, Mainaguri and Dhupguri were the worst affected in Jalpaiguri district where the state government has provided relief materials to around 28,000 people. Around 5,627 people in the plain land in Darjeeling district were affected and necessary initiatives have been taken to ensure safety and security of the residents in the area. At present there are around 23,000 people who have been taken to safe places that include relief camps set up by the state government.

It includes around 20,000 people only from Cooch Behar district who were given shelter in 77 rescue camps. 5 and 6 relief camps were set up in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts respectively.

45 boats were deployed in Cooch Behar to rescue the people and cattle. The rescue workers have brought 19,000 cattle in safe places. Around 15 medical teams were deployed in Cooch Behar. Besides distributing food among the affected people, the state government has also distributed around 30,000 water pouches to ensure sufficient supply of safe drinking water.

The state government has distributed around 292.5 quintal rice among people in Jalpaiguri. Tarpaulins were also distributed.

 

Image is representative

 

 

১.২০ লক্ষ বন্যা দুর্গতদের ত্রাণসামগ্রী দিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার

উত্তরবঙ্গের চার জেলায় বন্যার ফলে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত প্রায় ১.২০ লক্ষ মানুষকে ত্রাণসামগ্রী দিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার।

রাজ্য দুর্যোগ মোকাবিলা দপ্তরের সূত্র অনুযায়ী, কোচবিহার, জলপাইগুড়ি, আলিপুরদুয়ার জেলার ৩টি পুরসভার অধীনস্ত ২০ টি ব্লক ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে এই ভারী প্লাবনে, সেইসঙ্গে দার্জিলিঙের সমতল এলাকাও ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে।

কোচবিহার জেলার ১০টি ব্লকে প্রায় ৮৪,০০০ মানুষ ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে। কোচবিহারের যে ব্লকে দিনহাটা, মেখলিগঞ্জ এবং মাথাভাঙ্গা অন্তর্ভুক্ত সেখানে প্রায় ৭০০০ ঘর সম্পূর্ণরূপে ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে। আলিপুরদুয়ারের একমাত্র ব্লক কুমারগ্রামে প্রায় ২০০ মানুষ ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে।  রাজ্য সরকার ইতিমধ্যেই সেখানে ত্রাণ পৌঁছে দিয়েছে।

জলপাইগুড়ি জেলার ম্যাল, ময়নাগুড়ি এবং ধুপগুড়ি সহ সাতটি ব্লকের অবস্থা অত্যন্ত সংকটজনক, সেখানেও রাজ্য সরকারের ত্রাণ সামগ্রী পউছেছে। দার্জিলিং জেলার সমতলে প্রায় ৫,৬২৭ জন মানুষ ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হয়েছে। এলাকায় বাসিন্দাদের নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করার জন্য সবরকম প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যবস্থা নিয়েছে রাজ্য সরকার। রাজ্য সরকারের তরফে একটি ত্রাণ শিবির তৈরি করা হয়েছে যেখানে প্রায় ২৩,০০০ মানুষ নিরাপদে রয়েছেন।

কোচবিহার জেলার ৭৭টি রেসকিউ ক্যাম্পে ২০,০০০ মানুষকে আশ্রয় দেওয়া হয়েছে। জলপাইগুড়ি ও আলিপুরদুয়ার জেলায় যথাক্রমে ৫ টি ও ৬ টি ত্রাণ শিবির স্থাপন করা হয়েছে।

প্রায় ১৫ টি মেডিকেল টিম কুচবিহার জেলায় মোতায়েন করা হয়েছে। ক্ষতিগ্রস্তদের মধ্যে খাদ্য বিতরণ করা ছাড়াও পর্যাপ্ত ও নিরাপদ পানিয় জল সরবরাহ নিশ্চিত করতে প্রায় ৩০,০০০ জলের  প্যাকেটে বিতরণ করা হয়েছে।

রাজ্য সরকার জলপাইগুড়ি জেলারমানুষের মধ্যে প্রায় ২৯২.৫ কুইন্টাল চাল বিতরণ করা হয়েছে. এছাড়া ত্রিপলও বিতরণ করা হয়েছে।

Aparupa Poddar speaks on The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016

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Thank you, Deputy Speaker Sir, for allowing me to speak on The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill.

Child is the future of not only the family but also the future of our nation. It is unfortunate to say that children, who are innocent, are exploited and put to inhuman treatment and abuse. A child is like a bud. He or she needs nurture and care to bloom into a flower.

Child labour is a highly social evil and the root cause of child labour is poverty. Employing children in any work that deprives them of their childhood and that interferes with their ability to attend school affecting them mentally, physically, socially or morally is child labour, which is very dangerous, harmful and a serious concern.

Bonded labour is a hidden phenomenon as a majority of the children are engaged in it and it is a form of slavery. Hundreds of factories across India have so much of child labour. As a developing nation, it is disheartening for us. They are made to work in factories without any protection. Is it legal? Or, is it in any way justified? We say India is going to be a superpower in 2020. We need to develop our human resources.

It focuses on the laws of employment, focuses on the amenity the employees should be given, and on how to develop our employees for a better future. Our Act of Right to Education is nullified by child labour. Our efforts for giving mid-day meal are nullified by child labour. When the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was started, it was for the children to go to school, get education and have food. Child labour is the biggest problem of the future India.

This Act contains four Parts and one Schedule. The Schedule is further made into two parts, namely, Part (A) – Prohibited Occupation and Part (B) – Prohibited Process. This restriction of prohibition is not applicable if any workshop or any process is carried on by the occupier with the aid of his family or any school which maintains or is recognised by the Government.

The Central Government has a Committee to look after all the laws that are followed and the child should not get involved in any hazardous work. The Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee should monitor the injustice faced by children by taking care of their working hours, their health and safety, getting proper rest and getting holidays in a week. This Committee is to take all the steps for the betterment and the welfare of children and take strict action against those people who do not follow the law.

Deputy Speaker Sir, hamare desh mein garibi itni buri tarah hai ki hum child labour ko poori tarha rok nahi pa rahe hain. Azadi ke lagbhag 70 saal hone wale hain. Kabhi kabhi baat sexual offence tak bhi aa jati hain aur inhuman treatment dekhne ko milta hain. Consequence bahut kharab hain, jo desh ko andar hi andar kha rahe hain. Iss desh main illegality aur criminal activities badti ja rahi hain. Iss Bill ke Clause 3 mein jo family enterprise ke bare mein pravdhan hain, yeh sochne wala vishay hain ki iss cheez ko hataya jaye, kyunki yeh cheez baal shram ko aur aura age badne ka mauka de rahi hain. Isse ek bachhe ko daabe mein kaam karne ke liye force kiya ja sakta hain, usko shops mein kaam karne ke liye force kiya ja sakta hain. Yeh sochne ka vishay hain. Jab uska padai karne ka samay hain, tab usko yeh sab karna parega, iss liye yeh section par dhyan diya jaaye. Yehi main sarkar se arj karti hoon. Gandhi Ji ne kaha tha, “Education is something that can give a child a great future.”

Paschim Bangal ke Mananiye Mukhye Mantri Mamata Banerjee Ji ne bachhe ke liye tarah-tarah ki schemes shuru ki hain, jaise Kanyashree, Shikshashree, Sabuj Sathi, Shishu Sathi. Iss tarah ki schemes wey bachho ke liye layi hain aur bachho ke future inse badal rahe hain. Mein apni baat sirf char line keh kar khatam karna chahungi. Yahan par Mananiye Mantri Ji hain, aap iss par thoda gaur kijiye:

Inn hawayon se tum bachaye rakhna,
Umeed ka diya dil mein jalaye rakhna,
Jisne mitne na di Bangal ki laaj,
Uss Mamata Banerjee ko dil mein basaye rakhna, basaye rakhna, basaye rakhna.

With this, I conclude. I request the Government to send the Bill to the Select Committee to make the Bill child-friendly. Thank you, Sir.

Ratna De Nag speaks in LS on The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2016

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This is a very important Bill. Child labour is a global issue. Enforcement alone cannot solve it. Child labour can be stopped when knowledge is translated into legislation and action, moving good intention and ideas in protecting children’s health. Even after 69 years of independence, we are unable to stop child labour in our country. The reasons may be divided, but we cannot absolve ourselves from this scourge.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has not been ratified yet. It fixes the minimum age of employment at 18. We cannot leave our children out to be exploited under any circumstances and for whatsoever reason. I want to refer to a recent article by Kailash Satyarthi, India’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a child rights activist: “I make an earnest appeal to members of the Lok Sabha and beckon their conscience to recognise that politics isn’t merely about the next election but is also a moral obligation to the next generation.”

Hopeful happy smiles, soft hands, million dreams – is this not the identity of a child? Then why do I see tearful eyes, terrified faces, rough hands and shattered dreams? Deprived and overloaded with work, burdened with responsibilities at such a young age? So much to learn, so much to accomplish, but not given enough time. Fight for a cause, raise your voice. Stop child labour.

Put a smile back on their faces, give them the childhood that was stolen from them. Fight for a cause, raise your voice. Stop child labour.

Sir, this is the aim of our dearest Didi, the Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of West Bengal.

Thank you very much, Sir, again.

D Bandyopadhyay speaks during a discussion on construction of barrages on Mahanadi River affecting farmers

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I have got three short questions. I don’t have a lengthy speech.

Question 1 (Centre-State and inter-State relations)

There is a 1983 water-sharing agreement between the States of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh dealing with the arrangement on Mahanadi River. Now, at the behest and the request of the Chhattisgarh Government, this inter-State agreement is being encroached upon and bypassed by the Centre. There is a breakdown of all the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution – this is not cooperative federalism, of which we hear all the time, it is definitely a ‘not operative’ federalism.

Were consultations held with all relevant stakeholders, including officials from both State Governments, before the Centre decided on the matter? What were the inputs given by the Chhattisgarh Government that merited a unilateral move on the part of the Central Government?

Question 2 (on inter-State agreement)

Whether the State of Chhattisgarh is in breach of the inter-State contract signed in 1983 between Odisha and the undivided Madhya Pradesh? Does the Mahanadi basin fall within the ambit of this contract? What steps will be taken by the Centre to ensure that the spirit of federalism will be maintained between the two States in resolving this issue?

Question 3 (on CWC clearance and environmental assessment)

What is the nature of the project and whether Central Water Commission’s (CWC) clearance was obtained for the project? Has the Centre conducted any study to assess the environmental impact of constructing new barrage projects on the river Mahanadi and if so, are these studies available in the public domain?