Dr Gaurav Garg

SWADESH DARSHAN, 100% funding will be done by the central government for strengthening infrastructure, capacity building of

staff and locals, finding new avenues to connect people with tourism activities

Ministry of Tourism – PRASAD - Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive and Swadesh Darshan

Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana(HRIDAY)scheme - UrbanDevelopmentMinistry

PRASAD Scheme was launched in 2014-15 with 12 identified sites namely Ajmer (Rajasthan), Amritsar (Punjab), Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Dwarka (Gujarat), Gaya (Bihar), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Kamakhya (Assam), Kanchipuram (Tamil

Nadu), Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Vellankani (Tamil Nadu).

During 2015-16, Patna (Bihar) and in 2016-17, 12 more sites were added in the scheme for development namely Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Badrinath

(Uttarakhand), Belur (West Bengal), Deoghar (Jharkhand), Guruvayur (Kerala), Hazratbal and Katra (Jammu & Kashmir), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh),

Somnath (Gujarat), Srisailam and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar(Maharashtra).

HRIDAY SCHEMEDeadline

November, 2018

Outlay of INR 500 Croresthe Scheme is being implemented in 12 identified Cities

namely, Ajmer, Amaravati, Amritsar, Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and

Warangal.

4th NationalSummitonGood,ReplicablePracticesandInnovationsinPublicHealthCareSystemswas

conductedinIndore,MP

InauguratedbyLok Sabha speakerSumitra Mahajan.

ShealsodiscussedonNationalHealthPolicy2017andhowtoachieveSDGsinHealth

SDG 3 – GoodHealthandWellBeing

Category States/UT

AwardfordeclineinInfantMortalityRate(IMR)– BiggerStates

Jammu&Kashmir&WestBengal

AwardfordeclineinInfantMortalityRate(IMR)– SmallerStates

Manipur

Gobindobhog ricegetsGeographicalIndicationstatus

WestBengal’sGobindobhog ricerecentlyreceivedtheGeographicalIndication(GI)statusfromtheGeographicalIndicationsRegistry(GIR).

ThestategovernmenthadappliedfortheGIstatusforGobindobhog riceon24August2015.

TheGobindobhog riceisaspeciality fromBurdwan districtofWestBengal.TheregionofBurdwan (nowdividedintothedistrictsofeastandwest

Burdwan)isknownasthericebowlofBengal.

Nitasha BiswascrownedfirstMissTransQueenIndia

Ontheotherhand,Manipur’s Loiloi wascrownedthe firstrunner-

up while Ragasiya.k fromChennaibaggedthe secondrunner-up position.

BiswaswillnowgotoThailandforMissInternationalQueen,whileLoiloi willcompeteat

MissTranssexualAustralia.

FormerWestBengalMinisterGyan SinghSohanpal dies

• HewaselectedtotheWestBengalassemblyfor10timesandwasdefeatedin2016assemblyelectioninthestate.

• Between1972and1977,heservedasTransportMinisterduringtheChiefMinisterialstintofSiddharthaShankarRay.• HewassworninastheSpeakerofLegislativeAssemblyby

GovernorMKNarayananinMay2011.

28th Dantan Gramin Mela was inaugurated Midnapore district in West Bengal

It was inaugurated by Ex President Pranab Mukherjee on 19th

Jan.

The mela display the rural handicraft skills of the people of the region and the different goods ranging from textile to

terracotta.

India’sfirstmulti-sportsmuseumFanaticSportsMuseum(FSM)wasinauguratedattheEcospace inNewTown,Rajarhat,Kolkata.

ItwasjointlyinauguratedbySachin Tendulkar,Sourav Ganguly,Abhinav Bindra,Deepa Malik andDevendra Jhajaria.

Themuseumspreadover6700squarefeethasbeenlaunchedjointlybysportshistorianBoria Majumdar andindustrialistfromKolkata,Harshavardhan Neotia.

ItisafirstofitskindmuseuminIndiaandisinspiredbytheMCCMuseumatLord’sandtheIOCMuseuminLausanne.

EntryticketstothemuseumhavebeenpricedatRs100witha50%concessionforstudents.

IndiaalreadyhastwocricketmuseumslocatedatPune andChennai.

Howeverthenewmultisportsmuseumwouldcovervarietyofgamesrangingfromfootball,hockey,badminton,tennis,golfandathleticsbesidescricket.

BharatHeavyElectricalsLimited(BHEL)hascommissionednew500MWThermalUnitinWestBengal

Thiswasthesecond500MWatSagardighi ThermalPowerStation(TPS)PhaseIIprojectinMurshidabad districtofWestBengal.

Thefirstunitofthe1,000-MWprojectwascommissionedinDecember,2015.TheprojecthasbeensetupbyWestBengalPowerDevelopment

Corporation(WBPDCL).

TheequipmentfortheprojectweremanufacturedatBHEL'sTrichy,Ranipet,Haridwar,Hyderabad,BengaluruandBhopalplants,whilethecompany'spowersector- easternregion- undertookerectionand

commissioningoftheequipment.

VodafoneIndiasignedanMoUwiththeWestBengalgovernmenttoinvestRs3,000crore.

Thedealwassignedforcapacityaugmentationandnewbusinessinitiativesovernextthreeyears.

TheMoUsignedonthesidelinesofBengalGlobalBusinessSummit2017.

Aim:ToimproveVodafone’sleadershippositioninthestatebyofferingcustomersaSuperNetexperiencethroughenhancednetwork.

Presently,BHELisalsoexecuting3unitsof40MWeachofRammamhydro-electricprojectofNTPCLtd,inWestBengal.

Parag Havaldar won the prestigious Scientific & Technical Awards popularly called the `Technical Oscar’

It was given by the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences,

For the development of expression-based facial performance-capture technology at Sony Pictures Imageworks.

Havaldar's popular works include `Watchmen', 'Green Lantern', 'The Amazing Spider-Man', 'Beowulf ' and 'Hancock'

He was be awarded a certificate from the Academy at Beverly Hills, California.

The Scientific & Technical Awards were first presented at the 4th Academy Awards ceremony in November 1931.

UNESCOhasregisteredSitalpati orcoolmatfromtheCoochBehardistrict,WestBengalasanintangibleculturalheritage.

TheSitalpati arethematsthatareusedforsittingorhangingonthedoorsorwindowsduringsummerseason.

Theyaremadeupofweavedgreencaneslipsofmurta plantswidelyfoundintheregion.

Sitalpati hasfoundaplaceintheUNESCO-sponsoredRuralCraftHubproject.Underthisprojecttrainingandmarketingcentres,andmuseumshavebeensetupin10locationsacrossninedistrictsofthestatetohelppromoteandmarketcraftsindigenoustothoseregions,to

nationalandinternationaltourists.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and Sundarbans National Park are two UNESCO World Heritage sites located in West Bengal.

Damodar ValleyCorporationreceivedNTPCawardfromthethenUnionPowerMinister,Piyush Goyal.

DVCreceivedNTPCaward20015-16

DVCchairmanAndrewWKLangstieh,receivedtheprizebyGoyal amongstthepowersectorsunderforimplementationofOfficialLanguage.

The current UnionMinister ofState(Independentcharge)isR.K.Singh

WestBengalSettoGiveLegalProtectiontoHilsa Fish

IthasannouncedtoprotecttheendangeredHisla Fish fromgettingextinct

Andthushasproposedtointroducelawtoarrestanyonefoundinillegalcatching,buyingorsellingofHilsa fishweighinglessthan500grams(also

calledjuveniles)

Withtheintroductionoftheproposedprovision,Hilsa Fishwouldbecomethefirstfishtogetlegalprotection.

Witheachmonsoon,schoolsofthemigratoryHilsa orIndianShad(Tenualosa ilisha)swiminfromtheBayofBengaltothenetworkofriversfor

breeding.

ThismigrationhastraditionallysustainedtheHilsa fishery.

Governmentofficialspointedoutthatpresently,thedepartmentoffisherieshasnopunitivepowersandthesaleofsmallHilsa,colloquiallyreferredtoas‘khoka

ilish’ neededtobestopped.

Itwasn’tuntil2013thataspecificnotificationwasbroughtinbytheWestBengalgovernmenttocontroloverfishingandconservethehilsa population.

Thenotificationlayprohibitionsoncatchingofthefishusingagillnethavingmeshbelow90mm, prohibitedcatching,transportorsaleofsmallhilsa.

Italsodeclaredfivehilsa sanctuariesontheHooghlyriverfromFarakka toSagar,coveringastretchof250km,wherefishinghasbeenbannedbetweenJune-

AugustandOctober-December.

Assessmentoftheproductiontrendsofhilsa from1961to2013inthemiddlestretchoftheGanga byCentralInlandFisheriesResearchInstitute(CIFRI)revealedasignificantdeclineintheannualaverageproductionfrom36tonness to0.9tonnes.

FindingsbyCIFRIrevealthatduringtheperiod1998-2012,theaveragecatchofjuvenilehilsa (2to20grams)fromthesystemwas

astaggering85tonnesperyear.

Expertspredictthatsavingeven1percentofthesejuvenilescouldenhancethehilsa productionby4000tonnesperyear

India’sfirstadvancedHomoeopathyVirologylabinauguratedinKolkata

Shripad YessoNaik,UnionMinisterofStateforAYUSH(IndependentCharge),on12September2017inauguratedIndia’sfirstStateofartvirologylaboratoryatDr.AnjaliChatterjeeRegionalResearchInstituteforHomoeopathyinKolkata,WestBengal.Thelaboratoryhasbeenestablishedtodevelopnewdrugsandtechnologiesinhomoeopathytocombatemergingchallengesofviraldiseases.

• ThelaboratoryisestablishedatacostofRs.8croreistheonlyoneinIndiaforconductingbasicandfundamentalresearchinHomoeopathyforviraldiseaseslikeinfluenza,Japaneseencephalitis,dengue,chikungunyaandswineflu.• Newdrugsandtechnologieswouldbedevelopedatthelaboratorytocombatemergingchallengesofviraldiseases.

ZoologicalSurveyofIndiareleasedfirstcompendiumofanimaldiversityinIndianSundarbans

ZoologicalSurveyofIndia(ZSI)inSeptember2017publishedafirsteverexhaustivecompendiumofanimalspeciesintheIndianSundarban andthethreatsitfaces.

Thecompendiumistitled FaunaofSundarbanBiosphere Reserve.Asperthepublication,theZSIestimatesthatthereare2626oftheanimalspeciesinthefragileislandecosystem.Thelistingincludesadiverse25phyla,astheyarebiologically

classified.• Thecompendiumisthefirstconsolidatedandupdatedinformationofthefaunal

diversityoftheSundarbans.• Itlistsover2600species,includingthenewspeciesdescribedfromthemangrove

ecosystemaswellasthreatsfacedbythemduetoclimatechange.• Thepublicationisencyclopaedic initsscope.

• ThepublicationcataloguestheentirefaunaldiversityofSundarban BiosphereReservecovering9630squarekilometres spreadover19blocksinSouth24Parganas andNorth24

Parganas ofWestBengal.

Thecompendiumfeaturesfamoustigersoftheseislands,whichhaveadaptedtoaquaticconditionsaround,thehuman-tigerconflict,andbehaviour ofthebigcat.

• Itfeatures50mammalianspeciesincludingtheAsiansmall-clawedOtter,GangeticDolphin,GreyandMarshMongooseandthewildRhesusMonkey,the

onlyprimateintheSundarbans.• Asperthepublication,twoRhinos,Swampdeer,BarkingdeerandHogdeerand

AsiaticWildWaterBuffaloarenotfoundinSundarbansanymore.• Itfeatures356speciesofbirds,themostspectacularbeingraptors,orbirdsofprey,thatoccupythehighestcanopiesoftheforest.Osprey,Brahminy KiteandWhite-BelliedSeaEaglearedominant,whileRose-ringedparakeets,flycatchersandwarblersarealsofoundinthemiddletier,whileinthelowertier,kingfishers

abound.

There are 11 turtles, including the famous Olive Ridley and Hawskbill sea turtles and the most threatened freshwater species, the River Terrapin.

• A crocodile, 13 lizards including three species of Monitor Lizards and five Geckos are also found the Sundarbans.

• The rivers, creeks channels and the islands together harbour about 30 snake species, led by the King Cobra, considered vulnerable by IUCN.

• Others documented in the publication are the Monocellate or monocledcobra, Russell’s viper, common and banded kraits.

• The mangrove ecosystem covers about 350 species of fish. Cartilaginous fish, which have skeletons of cartilage rather than bone, make up 10.3 per

cent of the fish population. Also, there are 173 molluscs.• In another indication of its richness, 753 insect species are encountered in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve. Of these, 210 are butterflies and moths.

BengalClinchesU-19CoochBeharCricketTrophyfor2016-17season

WonagainstDelhiinthefinalattheFeroz ShahKotla StadiuminNewDelhi

Bengalwasdeclaredwinnerinthedrawnfinalsonthebasisofafirstinningsleadwith79-run.

EarlierBengalwontheU-19CoochBeharCricketTrophytitlein1997-98season.

Veteran All India Forward Bloc leader and former West Bengal minister Saral Deb passed away .

He was the state Library Minister from 1977 to 1982 and held the Cooperative portfolio from 1982 to 1987.

He was a six-time state legislator, winning from Barasat constituency of North 24 Parganas district.

TheIndianInstituteofTechnology(IIT)KharagpurisstartingIndia’sfirstinterdisciplinarySchoolonQualityandReliability(Q&R)inIndia.

ThemainaimtoestablishtheschoolistoimprovethequalityoflifeforthepeopleofIndiaaswellasdevelopqualityconsciousglobalcitizens.

Itwantstoimprove thetrinityofProcess,PlanetandPeople(3Ps) targetingEngineering,HumanandNaturalsystems.

TheQ&Rschool,incollaborationwithotheracademicunitsintheInstitutewillofferacademiccourses,researchandmission-modeprogrammesintheareaofQualityand

Reliabilityforsocialtransformation.

TheschoolisbeingnamedafteranIITKharagpuralumnusQualityguruSubir Chowdhury astheSubir

Chowdhury SchoolofQualityandReliability.

Heisthepatronoftheschoolwhohasoffered$1millionfundforschool.

WestBengalCMMamataBanerjee declaredKalimpong as21st districtofWestBengal

ThenewdistrictisfromDarjeeling.22nd – Jhargram

23rd - West Bardhaman district

ShealsoannouncedtwoprojectsforthedevelopmentofnewlycreatedKalimpong

1.Rs220croreroadlinkprojecttoconnectKalimpong withSikkimviatheoldSilkRoute

2.Rs50crorewatersupplyprojecttoaddressKalimpong’s waterscarcityproblem

India’sfirsthillstationbicyclepathwasinauguratedinDarjeeling

The20kmlongcyclerouteisdevelopedatanaltitudeofover2,000metersandrunsthroughthickpineforestandSenchal wildlife

sanctuary.

Thepathalsoprovidesaviewofthethird-highestmountainintheworld,Kanchenjunga.

TheroutestartsfromnearJorebunglow,southofDarjeelingandendsatasmalllocaleco-villageresortinChatakpur.

TheUnionMinisterofAgricultureandFarmersWelfare,Shri Radha MohanSinghinauguratedtheIndianSeedCongress2017inKolkata

ThethemeofSeedCongress:SeedofJoy.

ThethemeisinlinewithvisionofPMModigovernmenttobringhappinessandprosperityinthelivesoffarmersbydoublingtheirfarmincomeby2022.

Theavailabilityofcertified/qualityseedsinthecountryhasincreasedfromlessthan 40 lakhquintalduringdecadeof 60 to 370 lakhquintalin 2015-16.

HeaskedtheStateGovernmentstopreparevarietywiseseedrollingplantstomeetyearwise,seasonwiserequirementsofqualityseeds.

Thisseedrollingplantwillfulfil thedoublepurposeofimprovingtheSeedreplacementratealongwithVarietyreplacementratesothatsustainableagriculturalproductionand

productivitycouldbeensured.

AgricultureMinisterplacedemphasison 7 pointsprogrammeslaiddownbyHon’ble PrimeMinister,Shri NarendraModitomaketheincomeofthe

farmersdouble.

Thedetailsthereofareasfollow:

1)Bigfocusonirrigationwithlargebudgets,withtheaimof“perdrop-morecrop.

2)Provisionofqualityseedsandnutrientsbasedonsoilhealthofeachfield.

3)Largeinvestmentsinwarehousingandcoldchainstopreventpost-harvestcroplosses

4) Promotionofvalueadditionthroughfoodprocessing.

5)Creationofanationalfarmmarket,removingdistortionsande-platformacross 585 stations.

6)Introductionofanewcropinsuranceschemetomitigaterisksataffordablecost.

7)Promotionofancillaryactivitieslikepoultry,beekeepingandfisheries.

NotedBengalisingerBanasree SenguptapassedawayinKolkata

SheiswellknownforsomeofthemostpopularmodernsongslikesAaj Bikeler Daake Tomar Chithi

Pelam,Amar Ange Jawle Rangmashal

FormerMohun Bagan goalkeeperShibaji BanerjeepassedawayinKolkata

ThesoccerlegendShibaji hadplayedfortheclubfor11years.

Banerjee won34trophieswiththeclub.

He is also well known for stopping a free kick taken by Pele during the 1977 exhibition match against New York Cosmos.

Banerjee waspartofMohun Bagan’s three-mantechnicalcommitteeatthetimeofpassingaway

TheWestBengalClinicalEstablishments(Registration,RegulationandTransparency)Bill,2017waspassedbythe

statelegislativeassemblywithfullsupport.

TheBillreplacestheWestBengalClinicalEstablishments(Registration,RegulationandRegulation)Bill,2010.

Thestatewillsetupa 13memberWestBengalClinicalEstablishmentRegulatoryCommission whichwillmonitorprivatehealthcarefacilities,decideonchargesforhospitalsanddealwithcomplaintsfrompatients

KeyFeatureoftheBill:

HospitalscannotchargemorethanasstatedintheBill.

Hospitalscannotdelaythereleaseofadeceasedpatientevenifthefamilycannotpayupimmediately.

Incaseofdeathduetonegligenttreatment,hospitalwouldbeliabletopayRs.10lakhascompensation.

Victimsofaccidentswillhavetobeprovidedcareevenifheorshecannotimmediatelypayforit.

Hospitalsthatreceivedlandfromthestategovernmentwillhavetoprovidefreetreatmenttooneinfiveoutdoorpatients,andonein10patientsadmitted

tothehospital.

Everyclinicalestablishmentshallmaintainapublicgrievancecellforlodgingofcomplaintsontreatment,improperbilling,deficitservice,

behaviourofattendingstaff.

OfferfreeCardiacsurgerytochildrenunderSishu Sathi Scheme

Sishu Sathi Scheme

InamajorboosttochildhealthcareinWestBengal,theStateGovernmenthasjoinedhandswiththreeprivatehospitalsand

governmenthospitalstoprovidefreepaediatric cardiacsurgeryto3,000childreneachyearundertheinitiativenamed'Sishu Saathi'or

friendsforchildren thatflaggedoffonAug21,2013

Thegovernmenthastiedupwiththreeprivatehospitals- BMBirlaHeartResearchCentreandRNTagoreInstituteofCardiacSciencesinKolkataandMissionHospitalinDurgapur-

forthefree-surgeryscheme.

SethSukhlal Karnani MemorialHospital,B.C.RoyMemorialHospitalforChildrenandR.G.Kar MedicalCollegeandHospitalaresomeofthegovernmenthospitalsthathavecutting-

edgefacilitiesforpaediatric care.

Salientfeaturesofthisschemeinclude

a)theStateGovtconductshealthtestsingovernmentschoolstodetectheartailments,b)theStateGovtprovidesfreecardiacsurgeryforchildrenupto12yearssufferingfrom

heartailments,c)Allchildrenareeligibleirrespectiveoffamilyincome,d)AllexpensesarebornebytheStateGovernment.

TheWestBengalgovernmenthasgivenanofficialstatustoKurukh language

IthasbeenlistedasanendangeredlanguagebytheUNESCO.

ThelanguagewasgiventheofficialstatusonFebruary21ontheoccasionoftheInternationalMotherLanguageDay.

Kurukh isatriballanguagethatbelongstotheDravidianfamily.

ItisspokenbytheOraon tribalcommunitylivinginBirbhum-Bankura-Purulia-Midnapore beltandtheteagardenregionsinnorthBengal

ExpertssaythatwhilemostofthetriballanguagesintheStatehavetheiroriginsintheAustro-AsiaticandTibeto-Barmanfamilies,Kurukh isan

exception.

TheonlyexampleofatriballanguagehavingitsoriginfromtheDravidianfamilyisMalto,whichisnotspokeninWestBengal,butintheRajmahal hills

ofJharkhand

Santhali,Munda andHoelanguagesbelongtotheAustro-Asiastic family,whilethelanguagesspokenbytheLepcha,Tamang andBhutia tribesofthe

DarjeelinghillswereoftheTibeto-Burmangroup.

Jharkhandhasrecognised Kurukh asalanguage,andstudentscanwritetheirschoolfinalexaminationinitsscript.

IndianInstituteofTechnologyKharagpurbecomethefirstacademicinstitutionsinIndiatoreceiveasupercomputingfacilityof1Peta-flopcomputing powerundertheNationalSupercomputingMission

(NSM).

NationalSupercomputingMissionenvisagesbuildingsupercomputingcapacityandcapabilityinthecountrywithanestimatedbudgetofRs4,500

croreoveraperiodofsevenyears.

Peta-Flopisameasurementofcomputingpowerbasedonthefrequencyofmathematicalcalculationsthatcanbedonepersecond.

TheinstituteissettingupanewCentreforComputationalandDataSciences(CCDS) tobuild,manage,andoperatethehigh-performance

computingfacility

WestBengalHasHighestNumberofArsenicAffectedPersonsinIndia:Report

WestBengalwasthetopmoststateofIndiahavinghighestnumberofarsenic-affectedpersonsasonMarch4,2017

Thetotalnumberofarsenic-affectedpersonsinthestatewasmorethan1.04crore.

TheStateMinisterofPublicHealthEngineering(PHE)SubrataMukherjee informedthatthestatehas83blocksineightdistricts

wheregroundwaterisaffectedbyarseniccontamination.

ThesedistrictsincludeBardhaman,Malda,Hooghly,Howrah,Murshidabad,Nadia,NorthandSouth24Paraganas

Biharcomessecondwith16.88lakhpersons,withAssaminthirdspotwith14.48lakhvictims.

Thetotalnumberofarsenic-affectedpeopleinthecountryisabout1.48crore.

AboutArsenicContamination

Arsenicisanaturalcomponentintheearth’scrust.Itiswidelydistributedthroughouttheenvironmentintheair,waterandland.Itishighlytoxicinits

inorganicform.

Contaminatedwaterusedfordrinking,irrigationoffoodcropsandfoodpreparationposesthegreatestthreattopublichealthfromarsenic.

Long-termexposuretoarsenicfromdrinking-waterandfoodcanleadtochronicarsenicpoisoning.

Itcancausecancer,skinlesions,developmentaleffects,cardiovasculardisease,neurotoxicityanddiabetes.

WestBengalbeatGoa(1-0)toclinchthe71SantoshTrophyforarecord32nd time

FinalswasplayedattheGMCBambolimStadium,Goa.

ThemaidengoalcamefromManvir Singhin119minutesafterplayingagoalless90minutestodefeatGoaathomeground.

LasttimeWestBengalclinchedthetitlein2010-11againstMizoram.

PopularBengalifolkmusicsingerKalika PrasadBhattacharyadiedinaroadaccidentatPalsit inWestBengal.

Hewas47yearsold

TheaccidenttookplaceatGurap onDurgapurExpressway(NH2)inWestBengal’sBurdwan district.

ThefolksingervoicedinfilmslikeJaatishwar (2014),Moner Manush(2010)andBhuban Majhi (2017).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared Jhargramas the 22nd district of Bengal

It has been bifurcated from West Midnapore.

April 4 will now be celebrated as Jhargram Diwas

Jhargram, a part of the Jangalmahal area, was a hotbed of Maoists activities between 2008 and 2011.

The new district comprises eight blocks, nine police stations and one municipality. It has a population of around 11,37,000 and four Assembly

constituencies — Jhargram, Gopiballavpur, Nayagram and Binpur

WestBurdwan hasbeendeclaredas23rd districtofWestBengalasaBengaliNewYeargifttothepeople.

WestBurdwan districtwascarvedoutofBurdwan.

Everyyear,April7willbecelebratedasthebirthdayofPaschim (West)Bardhaman district.

Thecountry'soldestIIT(Kharagpur)isgoingtointroduceVastu Shastra classesforitsarchitecturestudents.

ClasseswillbeintroducedfromAugust,2017

Vastu Shastra willbeintroducedtoarchitecturestudentsfromthenextacademicsession.

Itwillbeintroducedtoundergraduatestudentsaspartofcoursesonbasicdesignandhistoryofarchitecture.

PhoenixIndiaResearchandDevelopmentGroupinKolkatahasdesignedabusthatwillrunonbiogasproducedfromcow

dung.

Thecompanyhastied-upwithAshokLeylandtomanufacturethe54-seaterbusatacostofRs13lakhapproximately.

ThefirstbuswasflaggedoffonApril7,2017andwillrunbetweenUltadanga inthenorthandGaria inthesouthinKolkata.

TheticketwillbechargedRe1forthe17.5kmstretch,whichwillbethecheapestmodeoftransportforapassengerinthecountry.

Bengal government introduces Social Security Yojana converges 5 beneficiary schemes

TheBengalgovernmenthaslaunchedtheschemeforunorganizedsectorsandselfemployedpeople.

KeyfeaturesoftheschemeAcommonbeneficiaryprogrammeispreparedforallthesectorsand

accordingtothatworkersfromeachofthesectorsandtheirfamilymemberswillbebenefitted.

Childrenwhowillenrollinthisschemewillalsogeteducationbenefits.

5crorepeoplewillgetbenefitfromtheSocialSecurityYojanaandaround1crorewillgetdirectbenefit.

Peoplewillbederivingmorebenefitswiththeintroductionofthenewonecomparedtothatofthepreviousfivedifferentschemes.

workersfrom46differentunorganised sectorsincludingbidiworkers,bookbindingworkers,motormechanics,boatmenand

ICDSworkerswillbegettingthebenefit.

Selfemployedpeoplefrom15differentsectorsincludingjewellerymanufacturingsectorandamins willalsocomeundertheyojana.

Beneficiarieswillalsogetsupportformarriageoftheirtwodaughtersbesidesgettinghealthcardsandotherbenefits.

Fiveschemesthatareconverged:

StateAssistanceSchemeforProvidentFundforUnorganised Sector

WestBengalUnorganizedSectorWorkers’HealthSecurityScheme

SocialSecurityschemeforConstructionWorkers

WestBengalTransportWorkersSocialSecurityScheme

WestBengalBidi WorkersWelfareScheme.

Atpresentabout85Lakhpeoplearebeingbenefitedjointlybyallthe5schemes.ThestategovernmenthasspentaboutRs.880crorebetween

2011and2016fortheimplementationoftheseschemes.

ThestategovernmenthasalsodecidedtointroduceStateNutritionMission.

Thestephasbeentakentoensuredistributionofnutritionalfoodamong

pregnantwomen,lactatingmothers,childrenbelowsixyearsandadolescentgirls.

TheWestBengalgovernmenthasmadetheBengalilanguagemandatoryinallschools.

ItwasdeclaredbytheState’sEducationMinisterPartha Chatterjee on15May2017.

TheBengalilanguageiscompulsoryforallschoolsincludingEnglishmedium.

Thestudentswhoselectanyoftheotherlanguagesastheirfirstlanguagewouldneedtopickuptwootherlanguages,amongwhichonewouldhavetobe

Bengali.

OtherthanBengali,EnglishandHindithereareprovisionsforoptingforUrdu,Gurumukhi,NepaliandOl-chiki amongotherlanguagesasthemediumof

instructioninschoolsoftheState.

Kolkata will launch an underwater Metro which will pass through tunnels several feet under the Hooghly.

ThefirstunderwatertransportationtunnelofIndiaisreadywiththesecondonenearingcompletion.

Thetunnelhasbeenconstructed30metersbelowriverbed.

Itwillbeconnectingtwomainterminals:HowrahandSealdah - eachofwhichhasafootfallofabout10-12lakhpassengersperday.

Thetrackwillbe16.6kmlongandthetrainwillrunwithoutadriver.Therewillbesixair-conditionedcoachesinthetrainanditwillhaveacapacityof1,000

passengers.

TheprojectisbuiltbyAfcons Transtonnelstroy andimplementedbyKMRCL(KolkataMetroRailwayCorporationLtd).

Afcons Transtonnelstroy isanIndo-Russianjointventure.

TheprojectconnectsHowrahtothewestandSaltlaketotheeast.

AmassivetunnelboringmachinecalledRachna wasusedforboringthe underwatertunnel.

TheEastWestMetrowithalengthof16.6kmwillhave12stations,sixofwhichwillbeundergroundstations.

ThetotalestimatedcostoftheprojectissaidtobeRs60croreanditwillbecompletedbyDecember2019.

VeteranBengalifilmactorSoumitra ChatterjeehasbeenconferredwiththehighestFrench

civilianhonour,theLegiond'Honneur.

AmbassadorofFrancetoIndiaAlexandre ZieglerwillbeinKolkatatopresentthehonour

Itistobenotedthat,exactly30yearsago,BengalifilmmakerSatyajit RaywasawardedtheLegionofHonorbythenFrenchPresidentFrancoisMitterrandin1987

IndianInstituteofTechnologyofKharagpuronhasdevelopedawirelesstechnologyforremotemonitoringofpatients.

ThetechnologyhasbeendevelopedintheSWANlaboftheDepartmentofComputerScienceandEngineering(CSE)oftheinstitute.

Ambu Sens iscapableofwirelessmonitoringofvariousphysiologicalparameterslikeECG,heart-rate,temperatureandblood-pressure.

Itcanbefittedinanambulancetoensureremotemonitoringofpatientconditionbythedoctorsevenbeforetheyreachthehospital.

Thesystempreservespatient'sdataconfidentialitywhilesimultaneouslyusingtheanalyticandcomputingpowerofcloud

computing.

ThewebinterfaceoftheAmbuSens systemprovidesaneasy-to-usegraphicalinterfacefordoctorsandparamedicsalikewithdata

visualisation toolssuchasreal-timeECGgraphrendering,andcanbeaccessedfrominternet-enabledlaptops,tabletsand

smartphones.

LegendarysingerSabita Chowdhury passedaway.

ShehaddonemanyplaybackforBengaliandHindifilms.

Shesufferedfromlungscancerandthyroid.

HerfamoussongsareOi jhilmil jhauer boney,Jaare jaa jaa monopaakhi,Jhilmiljhilmil opaarero monjil

UnionCabinethasapprovedthecreationofthreepostsofDirectorsforthethreenewAllIndiaInstitutesofMedicalSciences(AIIMS).

TheseAIIMSareat:

Mangalagiri nearGunturinAndhraPradeshKalyani inWestBengalNagpurinMaharashtra.

ThethreeAIIMSarebeingsetupaspartofthePradhanMantri Swasthya SurakshaYojana(PMSSY).

AspertheAIIMSAct1956AmendedvideAIIMS(Amendment)Act,2012,thereshallbeaChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheInstitute.

HeshallbedesignatedastheDirectoroftheInstituteandshallbeappointedbytheInstituteprovidedthatthefirstDirectoroftheInstituteshallbeappointedbytheCentral

Government.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in association with the West Bengal Government, will host Horasis Asia Meeting.

It will be a Global Business meeting.

The two-day business meet will start from 26th November, 2017

It will focus on sustainable business practices in various areas, including power and energy.

Horasis - a global visions community committed to enact visions for a sustainable future - provides a unique platform for companies from emerging and developed markets to globalize their organisations.

MinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfarehassignedanMoUwithGovernmentofWestBengaltosetupastate-of-the-art

CentreofExcellenceinTransfusionMedicine

TheCentreofExcellenceinTransfusionMedicinewillbesetupinKolkata.

GovernmentofIndiahasapprovedthisimportantinitiativewithanoutlayofapproximatelyRs.200Crorestowardsequipment,manpowerand

runningcosts.

ThemoveintendstostrengthenthebloodtransfusionservicesintheStateandthesurroundingregion

MetroBloodBankProjectisconceivedtobeaCentralSectorSchemeoftheMinistryofHealthandFamily

Welfaretosetupstate-of-the-artCentres ofExcellenceintransfusionmedicineinthefourmetrocitiesofDelhi,

Mumbai,ChennaiandKolkata.

Thesecentres arehighvolumebloodcollectioncentres.

FacilitiesforscreeningofcollectedbloodbyNATwouldbemadeavailableatthesecentres andalsoextendedtothe

otherbloodbanksoftheState.

Veterean ActressShakuntala Barua Gets'Mahanayak Samman 2017'

ItwasgivenbyWestBengalChiefMinisterMamataBanerjee.

Itwasgivenforhercontributiontotheworldofcinema.

Forthisyear,Prosenjit Chatterjee andNusrat JahantookhometheBestActorandBestActressawards

TheBestDirector:Arindam Sil

MusicDirector:PtBickram Ghosh

Cinematographer:Shoumik Halder

ScriptWriteraward:Padmanabha Dasgupta

Suparnokanti Karati for‘Bisarjan’filmandShiboprasad Mukhopadhyay ofWindowsProductionsfor‘Praktan’filmwereawardedinBestFilmandBest

Producercategories.

FormerBengalandJharkhandFirst-ClasscricketerGour Ghosh passedaway.

Gour wasright-handbatsmanandwicketkeeper.

Heplayed17First-Classmatchesinacareerspanning1960-61to1970-71

WestBengalCabinetApprovesMergerOfPSCAndSSC

Thestepwastakentocurtailcostsandforbetterutilisation ofmanpower.

Partha Chatterjee,EducationMinisterstatedthattherewillbenojoblossandnobodywillbeaffected.

ThestateSSCwassetupbyMamataBanerjeegovernmentin2012forrecruitmentinGroupCandDposts.

WestBengalhikessalariesofministers,MLAsandAssembly Speaker

Stateministers,whowereearlierdrawingamonthlysalaryofRs7,500,wouldgetahikeofRs10,000takingtheirtotalsalaryamounttoRs17,500.

ForMLAsandtheSpeaker,whoweregettingamonthlyremunerationofRs12,500,theproposedhikewasthatofRs5,000each,takingtheirsalarytoanequal

platformwiththeministers.

ThecabinetgaveitsnodtoincorporateSouth24Parganas KolkataLeatherComplex intotheKolkataPolicejurisdiction,hesaid.

Thecabinetalsosanctionedfivemajorbridge/RailwayoverbridgeprojectstoimprovecommunicationandroadsafetyatanestimatedcostofRs251.51crore

UpgradationofWBCSofficers:StatebureaucratshailCMmove

ChiefMinisterMamta BanerjeeinthecabinetmeetingdecidedtointroduceWestBengalHigherCivilService

WestBengalCivilService(WBCS)officersworkingfor8to10yearscanbeselectedasmembersofWestBengalHigherCivilService(WBHCS).

ShesaidthatthestatedidnotgetIASofficersdespiterequestingtheCentreandaWBCSofficerheretakesaround28to30yearstogetpromotedasanIASofficer.

TheIASofficerswhoareworkinginBengalatpresentareextremelytalented.Thus,ithasbeendecidedtointroduceWBHCSandacommitteehasalsobeenformedto

lookintotheentireprocess

MSMEsectormergedwithindustrialdepartment

WestBengalGovernmentinitscabinetmeetingdecidedtomergeMSMEwiththeindustrydepartmentofthestateforbetterfunctioningand

administrativeefficiency.

ThestategovernmentDecemberlastyearhadmerged21governmentdepartmentstoform10newones.

ThecabinethadpassedtheproposaltomergethedirectorateofsericulturethatwasundertheMSMEdepartmentwithstateagriculturedepartment.

TheWestBengalGovernment'sfundforMSMEwascreatedjointlywiththeSmallIndustriesDevelopmentBankofIndia(SIDBI) abouttwoyearsback

TheWestBengalGovernment'sRs200croreventurecapitalfundforMicro,SmallandMediumEnterprises

(MSME)

BengalisnumberoneintheMSMEsectorandthisfundisbeingcreatedtoprovideequitycapitaltostart-upswithinnovativebusinessmodelsornewproducts,servicesand

technology.

WestBengaldistrictsdeclinetoacceptnewRe1 coins

FourdistrictsinWestBengal,shopsandgeneralpeoplearerefusingtoacceptReonecoinintransaction,puttingtheauthoritiesinaquandary.

Thefourdistrictsare:

NadiaandMurshidabad

Bankura andHooghly

PeopleinthesedistrictssaidthattheproblemwasonlywiththesmallershiningvarietyoftheReonecoin,andnotwiththeoldervariety.

Trinamool MLAcapsRs250asconsultationchargefordoctorsinCoochBehar

WestBengallawmakerhascappedatRs250theconsultationchargefordoctorsinhisconstituency,thecontroversialmovecomesaweekafterchiefministerMamataBanerjee announcedacrackdownonprivatehospitalsfor

allegedovercharging.

Onthesecondvisit,thedoctorchargewouldbehalvedtoRs125,UdayanGuha (Dinhata MLAandrulingTrinamool Partyleader)said,adayafterhe

madehisdecisionknowntohealthcareprofessionals

Healsosaidthatnohospital,ornursinghomecanchargemorethanRs18,000for adeliverycasethatinvolvescaesarianoperation.

BengalCabinetApprovesIncreasingAgeLimitForStateCivilServicesExam

ThestategovernmentdecidedtoincreasetheupperagelimitforentryofGroupAofficersfrom32to36.

ForGroupBofficers,ithasbeenincreasedfrom32to39

WestBengalgovttweakingacttodirectlyrecruitprofessors,associateprofessors.

Directappointmentwastillnowrestrictedonlytoassistantprofessors,whowerethenpromotedtotheseniorpoststhroughtheCarrierAdvancement

Scheme.

Thehighereducationdepartmentwillplacethe WestBengalCollegeServiceCommission(Amendment)Bill2017inthecurrentsessionoftheassemblyand

modifythenecessarysectionstoincorporatethechanges.

Asofnow,the CollegeServiceCommission (CSC)hasthemandatetorecruitonlyatthelevelofassistantprofessorsandprincipals.Appointmenttothe

postsofassociateprofessorswereonlypossiblethroughtheCarrierAdvancementScheme(CAS)afterreceivingpromotions

Gati Dhara Scheme

TheWestBengalStateGovernment(MinistryofLaborandEmployment)hasinitiatedanewprogramcalled‘Gati Dhara Scheme‘fortheunemployedyouthofstate.

Themainmottoofthisschemeistoprovidefinancialhelpforpurchasingsmallbusinessvehiclee.g.Taxi,Bus,Smalltrucks,AutoRickshawetc.

Benefitsofthescheme:

TheGati Dhara scheme providesbenefitsinWestBengalstatetobuysmallbusinessvehicletounemployedpersonsagedbetween20and45

UnderthisschemeLoanisprovidedofamountRs.10,00,000throughalltheNationalizeBanks,Co-operativeBanks,Gramin Banks

30%orupto Rs.1,00,000subsidyprovidedoversanctionedloanwhilerepayingtheloan.

Easyavailabilityofloan

Norestrictionofloanrepayment

5to7yearsaregiventorepaymentofloanasamoratoriumperiod

EligibilityCriteria

Applicantcandidatemustbelongtoage20to45year.

ThereisagerelaxationforSC,STandOBC.ForSC,ST5yearandforOBC3year

TheapplicantcandidatesfamilyandoverallincomeshouldnotexceedRs.25,000permonthandhe/sheshouldabletoearnmoneythroughtransportservice

Kanyashree Scheme For Girls In Bengal Wins UN Award

ThegovernmentofWestBengalwastheawardedinstitutionforKanyashreewhichaimstoimprovestatusofadolescentgirlsfromdisadvantagedfamilies

throughsmallcashtransfers.

India wasnamedfirstintheAsia-Pacificgroupforthecategory:'ReachingthePoorestandMostVulnerablethroughInclusiveServicesandParticipation'.

"Kanyashree ofBengalnowbecomes"Kanyashree"oftheworld.TheUnitedNationstoday,ontheoccasionofUNPublicServiceDay,awardedtheUnited

NationsPublicServicesfirst-placewinnerawardtoGovernmentofWestBengalfor"Kanyashree",outof552nominationsfrom62countries,"Mamata

BanerjeewroteonFacebook

Kanyashree Yojana Kolakata

WestBengalChiefMinister,MamataBanerjee haslaunchedanewschemenamed‘Kanyashree Yojana‘toprovidefinancialbenefitstopoorgirlstudents.

Underthisscheme,poorgirlsofthestatewillbebenefitedbythegovernment.Thegovernmentwilltransferfinancialassistancedirecttogirlstudentsbankaccount.

Thegovernmentwillprovide25,000RupeestogirlstudentsunderKanyashree YojanaKolkatawhentheyreach18yearsofage.ThegovernmentwilltransferRs.500peryear

togirlsbankaccountasfinancialassistance.

AroundUSD500millionhasbeentransferreddirectlytothebeneficiaries'bankaccountthroughthescheme,whichisbeingimplementedthrough16,000institutesandschools.

TargetBeneficiary

Allgirlchildrenwithintheageof13to19yearsfromfamilieswithannualincomeuptoRs1,20,000/-

Girlsregularlyattendinginstitutionsforeducationorvocational/sportstraining.

GirlsofChildCareInstitutesregisteredunderJ.J.Actwithintheageof18-19years.

Fortheone-timegrant,girlswhoarecompleting18yearsonorafter1stApril2013.

Approximately18Lakhs girlstudentsforannualscholarshipeachyear

Approximately3.5Lakhs girlsforone-timegranteachyear

Thisschemehasalsoincreasedthenumberofgirlstudentsinthesecondaryexamination.19,000girlstudentshaveregisteredinKanyashree YojanaKolkatainthisfinancialyear.

WestBengalBudget2017-2018

TheBudgetwaspresentedbystate Finance Minister Amit Mitra.

The WestBengal government allocatedfundsforpeopleaffectedby demonetisation andmadeadjustmenttothe

proposedGoodsandServices Tax (GST)regimeinits2017-18Budget,whichaimedata tax revenue riseof14percentover

therevisedestimatesof2016-17.

TheplanoutlayfortheyearhasbeenproposedatRs64,733crore

ChangesproposedinWBVATAct,2003

Thresholdforpaymentoftax

Inordertogiverelieftothesmallbusinesses,itisproposedtoincreasethethresholdforpaymentoftaxfromRs.10lakhtoRs.20lakh.

VATRegistration

AsmallsectionofdealersstillhavetosubmithardcopiesoftheregistrationdocumentsintheVAToffices.Itisproposedinthebudgettocompletelydispensewiththerequirementofsubmittinghardcopiesofregistration

documentstotheVAToffices

Submissionofseparateauditreport

ItisproposedtocompletelyabolishtheprovisionofsubmissionofseparateVATauditreport.InsteadthedealersmaysubmittheincomeauditreportwhichwillbeacceptedasaVATauditreportasother

purposes.

VATRefund

Inordertofacilitateearlyrefund,Itisproposedthatallpendingrefundcaseswillhavetobedisposedofandenclosedbetween31st December

2017.

Composition scheme

Presently,onlytraderswithannualturnovertolessthanRs.50lakharecoveredundertheCompositionSchemeinwhichthereisanominalVATliability.

ItisproposedinthebudgettobringsmallmanufacturerswhoseannualturnoverislessthanRs.50lakhundertheCompositionscheme.

Asaresultthesemanufacturerswillhavetopayonlyanominaltax.33,000smallmanufacturerswillbebenefittedfromthismeasure.

Tax relief Itisproposedinthebudgettoexemptsomeenvironment-friendlyitemslikeBio-diesel,

BiomassBricket,Solarwaterheater,platesandcupsmadeupofSaal leaf,tilesofterracotta,etcandalsosomeitemsforcommonuselikekerosenestove,hairbandand

hairclip,etc.

Cess on tea

Itisproposedinthebudgettoextendtheexemptiononpaymentofprimaryeducationandruralemploymentcess onteaforafurther

periodofoneyearupto 31stMarch2018.

Stamp Duty and Registration

ItisproposedinthebudgettoreducetheStampDutyonAgreementtoSalefromthepresentrateof5to7percentto2percent.

Inordertogetthebenefitofthereducedrate,theregistrationhastobedonewithinaperiodof4yearsfromthedateofagreementon

paymentofthebalancestampduty.

It is also proposed to reduce the rate of registration fee on all by 9 percent.

It is also proposed to incentivise early registration of properties by reducing the registration fee by 20 percent if the registration is done within one year from the date of completion of property.

Tax collection has increased by 103% from 2010-11 to 2016-17”, which is a record among States."

AnallocationofRs250crorewasalsomadetowardsonetimeassistanceto50,000skilledworkerswhowereforcedtoreturnhomeonaccount

of demonetisation fallout.

TheassistancewillbeofRs50,000eachanddistrictmagistratesareworkingtopreparealistofthebeneficiaries,accordingtoMitra.

AspecialfundofRs100crorehasalsobeenproposedtohelpfarmerstideoverthecrisisarisingoutofnoterecall.

TheBudgetalsoprovidedforanincreaseinthemonthlyhonorariumofRs500toICDS(IntegratedChildDevelopmentServices)andAsha workersof

thestate.Itwillbenefit2lakhAnganwadiworkersand50,000ASHAworkers

IntegratedChildDevelopmentServices

IntegratedChildDevelopmentServices (ICDS)isan Indiangovernment welfare programmewhichprovidesfood, preschooleducation,and primaryhealthcare tochildrenunder6yearsofageandtheirmothers.

Theschemewashoweverlaunchedon2nd October1975butMorarjiDesaiGovernmentdiscontinueditin1978buthoweverfromTenthfiveyearplanthecentralgovernmentstartedfocussing moreonitsobjectiveandrelaunched it.

TenthfiveyearplanalsolinkedICDSto Anganwadi centres establishedmainlyinruralareasandstaffedwithfrontlineworkers.

Inadditiontofighting malnutrition andillhealth,theprogrammeisalsointendedtocombat genderinequality byprovidinggirlsthesameresourcesasboys

A2005studyfoundthattheICDSprogrammewasnotparticularlyeffectiveinreducingmalnutrition,largelybecauseofimplementationproblemsandbecausethepooreststates

hadreceivedtheleastcoverageandfunding.

Duringthe2012–13 fiscalyear,theIndiancentralgovernmentspent ₹159billion (US$2.5 billion)ontheprogramme.

ThewidespreadnetworkofICDShasanimportantroleincombatingmalnutritionespeciallyforchildrenofweaker

groups.

Implementation

FornutritionalpurposesICDSprovides300kilocalories(with8-10 gramsof protein)everydaytoeverychildbelow6yearsofage.

Foradolescentgirlsitisupto500kilocalorieswithupto25 gramsofproteineveryday.

TheservicesofImmunisation,HealthCheck-upandReferralServicesdeliveredthroughPublicHealthInfrastructureunderthe Ministryof

HealthandFamilyWelfare.

UNICEF hasprovidedessentialsuppliesfortheICDSschemesince1975.

WorldBank hasalsoassistedwiththefinancialandtechnicalsupportfortheprogramme.

ThecostofICDSprogrammeaverages$10–$22perchildayear.

TheschemeisCentrallysponsoredwiththestategovernmentscontributingupto ₹1.00 (1.6¢ US)perdayperchild.

PostmanMobileApplaunchedtotrackreal-timedeliveryinWestBengal

Thepostaldepartmenthaslaunchedanewmobileapplication,PostmanMobileApplication(PMA)intheheadpostofficeofWestBengal’sSiliguri.

Theappenablesthepostmantocapturereal-timedeliverytrackingusingtheirmobilephones.

PostmanMobileApplicationisanandroidbasedmobileappdesignedanddevelopedbyCentreofExcellenceinPostalTechnology(CEPT),Mysore.

Currently,36mobilephoneshavebeengiventothepostmanandinthefuturemorethan1800phoneswillbegiventoeverypostmanintheNorthBengalcircle.

WBGovtlaunches'Pathadisha'App&faresmartcardforbuses

Launchingthe'Pathadisha'mobileapp, WestBengal TransportMinisterSubhenduAdhikary saidthelaunchwaspartoftheinitiativeoftheVision2016ofTransport

departmenttoprovidesmart,transparentandsimplewayofcommuting.

LikeOlaandUber app-basedcabservice,whereacommutercanverifythepositionofanapproachingvehicle,'pathadisha'willfromnowonenablea

commutertoseelocationofabus,it'snextdestination,theavailabilityofseats,howmuchcrowdeditisinside- inshorteverything

Theproject,havingWorld Bank andaKoreanGreenGrowthfundasdevelopmentpartners,willalsobeextendedfromWestBengal TransportCorporation-runbusesincitytotwootherstateundertakingsinnextsixmonthsandwillcovertheentire

state

Comingtosmartcard,thepre-paidelectronictransportcardwillbeintroducedin700busesnowandanother300busesinfewmonths'

time.

TheprepaidcardismodeledonLondon’sOysterCardwhichisplasticpay-as-you-gocard.

Thiswillstoppilferageinexpensesinstatetransportundertakings,savepassengersandbusemployeesfromsmallchangecrisisand

bringmoretransparencyinthetransportsystem,hesaid.

Thesmartcardfacilityand'Pathadisha'appwillalsobeextendedtothewaterwayswithWorld Bank asthedevelopmentpartner.

WestBengaltourismdepartmentlaunchesapp

Thetourismdepartmentofthestatehaslaunchedamobileappbasedonthethemeof'ExperienceBengal'.

Alongsideinformationonplacesoftouristinterest,theappwouldbeloadedwithotherfacilitieslikemapsanddirections.

Throughsomerelatedlinksontheapp,theuserscanalsogetaccesstoFacebook,TwitterPageofWestBengalTourismDevelopmentCorporationandBengalcuisine

website.

Onlinebookingfacilitieswouldalsobeavailablethroughtheappavailableonandroid.

WestBengal:BirbhumtogetBaul Acadaemy.

ChiefMinister MamataBanerjee announcedthesettingupoftheBaul AcademyinBirbhum,whichshesaidwouldservetopreserveandpromotemusicalandreligioustraditionsofthesyncretic sectspreadthroughoutthestate,particularlyinthedistrict.

MamatawasspeakingattheinaugurationoftheJaydeb Mela — anannualfairthatseesthepilgrimageofthousandsofbauls andfakirsatBirbhum.

Bauls areaheterogeneousgroupwithmanysects,whosemembershipconsistsofbothVaishnava HindusandSufiMuslims,andtheirtraditionwasincludedinthelistof

‘MasterpiecesoftheOralandIntangibleHeritageofHumanity’in2005.

StatehasstartedLok Prasar Prakalpa forourfolkartistes.80,000artisteshavebeenregisteredunderthescheme.

CalcuttaHighCourt’sOrderPavesWayForAsbestosFreeWestBengal&India.

TheDivisionBenchofCalcuttaHighCourthaspassedanorderwhichcansettheprocessofmakingWestBengalfreeofasbestosbasedproducts.

Theorderseeksremovalofcarcinogenic-asbestosthathasbeenusedforroofingintheCourt’sbuildings.

ThisorderunderlinestheseriousunprecedentedenvironmentalandoccupationalhealthcrisiswithregardtotheunnoticedepidemicofasbestosrelateddiseasesinWestBengalinparticularandinthecountryingeneral.

WestBengaltotakepartWorldFoodIndia(WFI)2017as‘focusState’.

WestBengalwilltakepartintheWorldFoodIndia(WFI)2017as‘focusState’andtakefulladvantageoftheplatformthattheUnionministryoffoodprocessingindustrieshas

created.

ItwasinformedbyMsNandini Chakrabarty,foodprocessingindustriesandhorticulturesecretaryofWestBengalataroadshoworganizedonFridaybyCIIahead

oftheWorldFoodIndia2017 billedforNewDelhifrom3-5November2017.

WFI2017willbea“goldenmoment”forBengaltoshowcaseitspotentialaswellasthehugesuccessithasachievedinthesector.“Itwillbeaplatformtoshowcaseits

innovativefoodprocessingmethods.

WestBengalstartsorganicfarmingactivitiesacrossthestate .

Withaneyetoframeanorganicfarmingpolicy,Bengalagriculturedepartment,foodprocessingindustries,andhorticulturedepartmenthave

startedorganicfarmingactivitiesinacrossthestate.

Theincreasingdemandfororganicvegetables,especiallyamongurbanresidents,hasconvincedthestategovernmenttoformulatetheorganic

farmingpolicy.

Thefoodprocessingindustriesandhorticulturedepartmenthasaskedtheruralagriculturalfarmstobeginorganicfarmingandassuredthemoftechnicalassistanceaswellashelpinpromotionandmarketing.

Thedepartmentwillsupplygreenhousesandpackhousesalongwithorganicfertilizers.Itwillalsoprovidecarstoferrythosefarmproductstothemarkets.

Thedepartmentisalsotakinguporganicfarmingatitsownfarms.

Theagriculturedepartment,ontheotherhand,hassetatargettoprepare 32organicvillagesacrossBengal — especiallyinthedistrictsofNorthandSouth24

Parganas,HowrahandHooghly.

Ithassetup120clusters,of50acreseach,whereorganicfarmingistakingplace.Around194farmhousesunderthedepartmentarealsofarmingorganic

vegetablesseparately.

Thisapart,thedepartmentunderSwanirbhar Krishi Prakalpa iscollaboratingwithprivateagenciesonorganicfarming.

StategovtgettinghugeresponseforITparks:WestBengal FM

WestBengalfinanceministerAmit Mitrasaidthestategovernmentwasgettinghugeresponsefrominformationtechnology(IT)firmsintermsofoccupyingspacesinnewly

developedITparksacrossthestate.

Speakingattheinauguralsessionofthe15theditionof‘TechnologySenate— TheIndianITLeadershipConclave’,organisedbyTheExpressGroup,hesaidearlier,wehadeightITparks.

TwelvenewITparkshavebeensetup.

TheparksarelocatedatAsansol,Barjora,Bolpur,Durgapur,Haldia,Howrah,Kalyani,Kharagpur,Purulia,Rajarhat,Siliguri andTaratala.

WestBengalgovernmentannouncesRs20crorefundsfornon-NETstudents

MamataBanerjee oannounced thathergovernmentwillstartagranttoaidscholarshipsfornon-NETMPhil andPhDscholarsfromthestate.AnamountofRs20crorehasbeenearmarkedforthis.

TheUGChasterminatedthefellowshipgrantofRs5,000andRs8,000fornon-JuniorResearchFellowship(JRF)scholarspursuing

MPhil andPhDcourses.

Thestudentshavenarratedwithpainthatmanyresearchersdonothavethemoneytoevenpaytheirhostelandmessfees,andsomeareevenfacedwiththeprospectofabandoningtheirdreamsofpursuingresearch,duetostoppageofnon-NET

Fellowship,”Mamatasaidinastatement.

SheallegedthatthereleaseoffundsbyUGCunderNET-JRFfellowshipshaseitherbeenerraticordelayedandhascaused

“uncertaintyanddistress”totherecipients

WestBengalgovt's biotechnologydepartmenttosetupstate-of-the-artplanttissueculturelaboratory.

ThebiotechnologydepartmentoftheWestBengalgovernmenthasdecidedtosetupastate-of-the-artplanttissueculturelaboratoryattheKolkataBiotechParktoenhance

productionandqualityofplantsandvegetables.

Therewillbescientistsandresearchfellowswhowillcarryoutvariouskindsofresearchonplantsandbio-fertilizersandhowtheycanbeusedtoincreasetheproductionof

vegetablesinthestate.

VariousmedicinalplantswillbeconservedintheBiotechParkforresearchpurposes.ThedepartmentisalsointheprocessofformulatingtheBiotechPolicyforBengal.

ThestategovernmenthasalreadytakentheinitiativetoupgradetheinfrastructureofKolkataBiotechParkapartfromsettingupnew

BiotechnologyhubsinBurdwan andKalimpong

Thedepartmenthasbeenfocusingonthemodernisation andexpansionoftheCommonInstrumentFacilityCentreintheBiotech

Parkinthecity

Thebiotechnologydepartmentwilltieupwithotherdepartmentslikeagriculture,fisheriesandfoodprocessingtostrengthenorganisational

collaboration.

CabinetapprovesRajbangshi board

TheBengalcabinetapprovedtheformationofadevelopmentboardfortheRajbangshi people.

AdecisionthatisseenasanattemptbyMamataBanerjee tocheckmatethegrowthoftheBJPinCoochBeharandotherareasdominatedbythe

community.

TheWestBengalRajbanshi Development&WelfareBoardisthefirstofitskindforacommunitylivingintheplainsofthestate.

Earlier,theMamatadispensationhadcreated15developmentboardsfordifferentcommunitiesintheDarjeelinghills

DuringhertriptoCoochBehar,Mamatahadannouncedthatadevelopmentcouncilwould

beconstitutedfortheRajbangshis andmembersoftheCoochBeharroyalfamily

wouldbeincludedinit.

InCoochBeharandAlipurduar districts,theRajbangshis formalmosthalfofthe

population.

WorldBankapproves$210millionloanforWestBengal'sgrampanchayatdevelopment .

The WorldBanktodayapprovedaUS$210millionloantostrengthenGramPanchayats(GPs)– thelowesttierofrurallocalgovernments– acrossthestateofWest

Bengal.

Followingtherecommendationsofthe14thCentralFinanceCommissionandthe4thStateFinanceCommission,aggregatefundflowstotheseentitieswillmorethan

doubleby2020.

The WestBengalSupporttoInstitutionalStrengtheningofGramPanchayat Program–PhaseII(ISGPP-II) willsupportall3,342GPsinthestatetoeffectivelyutilizethese

untied/discretionaryfundsthatisbeingprovidedtothemundertheinter-governmentalfiscaltransfersystem.

Yuvashree Yuva Utsaha Prakalpa

UnderthisschemegovernmentwillprovideunemploymentallowancestounemployedyouthofWestBengal.

Thegovernmentwillprovidetheunemploymentallowancestohelpthejob-seekerstoupgradetheirlevelofskills.

ThegovernmentofWestBengalwillprovideRs.1500permonth tounemployedyouthpermonthundertheYuvashree Scheme.

EligibilityCriteriaforYuvashree Yuva Utsaha Prakalpa

Onlyonememberofafamilywillgetfinancialassistanceunderthisscheme.

Applicantsbetweentheageof18-45willbeeligibleforYuvasree Scheme.

Applicantsshouldbeenrolledinemploymentbank.

ApplicantsshouldbetheresidentofWestBengal.

Applicantsshouldbeunemployedandenrolledasjob-seeker.

Applicantsshouldpassed8th classandabove.

MGNREGA:WestBengalreceiveshighestshareoffunds

WestBengalgotthehighestshareoffundsfromtheMahatmaGandhiNationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeAct(MGNREGA)schemefortheyear2016-2017up

tolastNovember.

WestBengalreceivedoveratenthofthefundswiththetotalallocationbeingRs3945.28crore.

RajasthancameinsecondwithanallocationofRs3571.15crorefollowedbyAndhraPradesh,TamilNaduandUttarPradesh.

Darjeelingwriter,singerreturnWestBengalStateawards

SteppingupthemovementforseparateGorkhaland State,atleastthreepersonalities fromtheDarjeelinghillsreturnedawardsconferredonthemby

the WestBengal governmentatapublicgathering

OntheoccasionofGorkha Exta Dibas,thebirthanniversaryofNepalipoetBhanubhakta Acharya,WriterandtranslatorKrishnaSinghMoktan,musicianKarmaYounzon andKurseong CollegePrincipalPrakash Pradhanreturned

theirawards.

OnJuly8,theGorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)hadcalledonawardeestoreturntheirhonours givenbytheStategovernment.

WestBengalgovernmenttoconverttotos toe-rickshaws

Intheongoingoperationtoreplacethetotos plyinginthestate,onethousande-rickshawswereintroducedinNorth24Parganas

StateTransportministerSuvendu Adhikari officiallyintroducedthevehiclesataneventinBarasat.

Sofar,4,000totos havebeenreplacedbye-rickshawsalloverBengal .

Thisisamajorstepbythestategovernmenttowardspromotinge-vehicles.

Therearearoundonelakhtotos andanotheronelakhvanos,bothofwhichareindigenously-builtpassengerferryingvehicles,inthestate.Stepshavealreadybeentakentoreplacethe

vanos bye-carts.

ChiefministerMamataBanerjee hadaskedtheAdhikari toensurethatnototo driverisrenderedjoblessafterthetotos arereplaced

WestBengalgovernmenttosetaricemuseum

WestBengalgovernmentisallsettogetaricemuseumshortlythatwillexhibitsomeofthefinestricevarietiescultivatedinthestate.

ThegovernmentisbuildingthemuseumatPhulia inNadiadistrict.

Themuseum,whichisunderconstruction,willstore450varietiesofrice,includingthearomaticvarieties(likerandhuni pagal,radha tilak,kanakchur,badshah bhog

andothers)

Eventhoseonthevergeofextinctionaswellasthosenewlycreatedinthestategovernment’sagriculturallaboratories,forexample,ricewithmoreironcontent,

ricebeneficialforanaemic womenandchildrenamongothers

WestBengalgovernmenttosoonintroducenewfishingmethod'cageculture'

Takingacuefromthepisciculture practicesinNorway,Thailand,JapanandthePhilippines,WestBengalgovernmentisallsettointroduceanewmethodofdeep-

seapisciculture commonlyknownascageculture .

Asthenamesuggests,thepracticeconsistsofculturingfishinsidebigfloatingcagesinthemiddleofthesea.

Theprojectisatpresentinthepilotstage.

Two4.5metre-diameter cagesmadeoutofGIpipesandnetlon meshhavebeensetup2kmoffthecoastofMandarmani atthenorthernendoftheBayof

Bengal.

Thecagesarecoveredwithnetstopreventseabirdsfromfeedingonthefish.

Theyaretieddownwithbuoystoprovidestability.Eachcageisgoingtolasteighttotenyears.

HatchlingsforthepilotprojectwillbereleasedinSeptember,whichwillgrowtotherightsize– 1to1.5kg– withinsixmonths.

Mostly,bhekti andpomfret willberearedinthesecagesasthesefishesinhighdemandandareexpensiveaswell.

Suchdeep-seacultureinlargenumberswillbringdownpricesofthesefishesandmakethemmoreaffordable.

Thiswillalsohelptobringdownthepressureonthelakesandinlandhatcheries.

Scientistsarealsoresearchingtheviabilityofpearlcultureintcages.

WillMakeWestBengalTheNumber1StateintheWorld:MamataBanerjee.

CelebratingsixyearsoftheTrinamool CongressgovernmentinBengal,ChiefMinisterMamataBanerjee pledgedtomakethe

statenumberoneintheworld

AndexpressedgratitudetoMa,Mati,Manush forsupportingheralltheseyears.

TwocategoriesofawardswerepresentedaspartofBangaSamman – Banga BhushanandBanga Bibhushan.

TherecipientsofBanga Bibhushan thisyearareYCDeveshwar,DrDhiman Ganguly,Dr

ArunPrasadMukherjee,Soumitra ChatterjeeandNirendranath Chakraborty.

TherecipientsofBanga BhushanareKhidmatFakir,Chapal Bhaduri,Lakshman DasBaul,Rezwana Chowdhury Bonya,DrAbhijit

Chowdhury.