Panihati Municipality e-Newsletter

August 2015, VOLUME-3 From The Desk of Chairman:

Friends, In the auspicious moment of our 69th National Independence Day, I would like to congratulate all the citizens of this Municipality and wish their well-being for the days ahead in every sphere of their

Municipal Vision: “Panihati Municipality will work for the improvement of physical and social infrastructure with due consideration for pro-poor, participatory and inclusive development based with equity and equality. It includes concern for environmental factors (in widest sense of the term covering pollution-free environment, development of greenery and enhancement of overall beautification of the city etc.), introducing gender and child sensitive policies, provision for ‘shelter for shelter less’, primary and mass education facility especially for the children of economically weak and linguistic minority sections. This will enable the citizens across the sectors of the society to be healthy, knowledgeable and economically self-sufficient. The municipality aims to achieve its goals through mobilization of local and other resources, efficiency, better citizen interface and organizational development.”

public and personal lives. Every year, this day (15th August) is commemorated with much enthusiasm, a feeling of joy and happiness along with deep pride and respect for our National Heroes who sacrificed their mortal lives to make us free in the glorious journey of our nation-building. We can never forget the contributions of freedom fighters from Bengal (undivided) and the leadership the Bengal showed in the trails of Independence from the 200 years British rule. The names of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Master Da Surya Sen, Khudiram Bose, The famous trio of Benoy-Badal-Dinesh, Kanailal Bose, Bagha-Jatin, Matangini Hazra, Sucheta Kripaloni and many others will always be remembered with great pride and honour. They showed us the spirit of bearing the great responsibility they had entrusted with to move our country forward. The eminent personalities like Raja Rammohan Roy, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda have always encouraged us toward this goal and remind us the need of freedom from the other evils like ignorance, inequality, illiteracy, superstition, poverty, hunger, malnutrition, communalism beside the political freedom as well. The fight against these hurdles would be a continuous one and we should engage ourselves to face these challenges. Since Independence, India has advanced in many spheres like agriculture, industry, telecommunications, electricity, science, education, medicines, literature, sports and other cultural activities. We have seen the Green revolution in the 60s and become self-sufficient in food production. We have excelled in enhancing the national security and became one of the nuclear-energy enabled countries in the world. Side by side, there remain the areas, where our performances do not match with the progresses of the other developing countries. The scars of increased economic inequality between the various regions, the widening gap between the Haves and Have-nots, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition and hunger, social and economic discrimination and exploitation in various forms are still the burning issues challenging our development and progress to the optimum level. Corruption, black market and black money run parallel economy, terrorism; political unrest and strife, communalism, social inequality like casteism, crimes against humanity, human trafficking, alcoholism and drug abuse etc. are major hindrances towards the path of strengthening economy and modern nation-building process. Providing Roti-Kapra-Mokan (food-dress-shelter) to the every citizen of India still remains a distant dream. Many families are still toiling and struggling from morning to midnight to earn resources for just a hand- to-

mouth existences or the bare minimum for the survival. True, there are various Central and State Govt. run schemes to provide employment, education, health and medical support and social security to the poor citizens living in rural and urban areas but a large group of masses remains still at large to avail these facilities. Beside these, natural calamities like earth-quake, land-slides, drought and flood, at times (not very less frequent), have perished natural and human resources to a large extent putting tremendous pressure on our national economy and enhancing the woes of the general masses indescribably. We have to work continuously for protecting our children and youth i.e the future of India and provide them the facilities to grow as responsible citizens of our country. Creating opportunities and enhancing scope for living with dignity for all, become knowledgeable and increased participation in social and political spheres are the major criteria for human freedom besides the facilities for basic needs. Likewise, we have to provide special facilities for the old and infirm, socially and economically weaker sections and last but not the least- special measures need to be taken for women empowerment and participation. Some policies and various strategies have already been worked out for these goals but we have to put more emphasis on proper implementation and increasing the coverage of these policies and planned activities. As civic body overseeing the local development, the aim of Panihati Municipality is to provide better civic facilities to its citizens and we are continuously working for that within the limited capacity at hand. West Bengal-The State Government led by our beloved Chief Minister and visionary leader Smt. Mamata Banerjee has always been the source of inspiration towards our goal. She shows us the path for determined action and continuous work for the people in need. We pledge for working hard to fulfill her wishes and dreams to make our state a prosperous and legendary one. With all the best wishes,

Swapan Ghosh

Chiarman, Panihati Municipality

August 2015 has been started in Panihati with crises of water logging in several wards due to heavy seasonal downpours. Repairing of the road and street damages has become very urgent. The situations were worsened in the places where water supply pipelines are being laid in the ongoing water supply project. Panihati Municipality had initially tried to cope with the situation by pumping out the stagnant water into the major drains along B.T. road and Sodepur -Barasat Road and opening up the blockages in these channels up to the outfall points. Sludge clearance had been done on war footing scale to ease out the situation. Relief works had been done in the inundated areas by the ward councilors. Road restoration works had been taken up in various places. A major road renovation job by KMDA had been started in the recent past on Sodepur Traffic more Junction to Sodepur Railway Over Bridge (ROB) and this job necessitates one way blockages/restriction of traffic movement. This causes tremendous pressure on the other lane. Recent downpour makes the situation worse causing severe damages on this lane and makes the traffic and pedestrian movements very risky. Immediate palliative measures (though temporary) have been taken up for the benefit of the common public and enhancing the safety of the daily commuters and pedestrians.

Relief programme for the affected poor and needy citizens of water logged locations of Panihati Municipality due to incessant monsoon rains in June-July 2015 have been organized in various wards. Local ward Councillors took active participation to arrange, organize and distribution of the relief materials to the affected families along with taking measures for draining out the stagnant water through motor pumps. The flood like crises situations have been tackled with prompt and hand to hand cooperation of the Municiapal Authority within the limited capacity at the ULB level. Health officials and workers are on their toes in monitoring and controlling of the spread of enteric and other vector borne diseases and conducting awareness programme to cope with the situation.

Panihati Municipality has celebrated Kanyasree Divas Programme on 13 & 14Th August, 2015 with much fanfare and spontaneous participation of all. The Flagship programme initiated by our Honorable Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee has now drawn the acclaims of many national and international organizations like UNICEF with the vision for curbing Child Marriage and encouraging continuation of education of the female child along with other goals and objectives. Panihati Municipality has organized a Two Day Programme to celebrate the event. On 13th August 2015, Drawing, recitation and Slogan writing competitions were organized among the girl students of the local schools partnering with the Municipality in Kanyashree Prokolpo. On 14th August, a large procession from Tetultala Bus stoppage to Lok Sanskriti Bhavan compound was organized by this Municipality which was attended by the students of the local schools, teachers, Guardians, Councillors, Officials along with the common citizens. The long colourful procession was beautifully decorated with banners, posters, flexes carried by the school children campaigning for and spreading the awareness for Kanyashree Prokolpo and its messages and it was a huge success. The programme ended with a meeting at Lok Sanskrit Bhavan where successful competitors were given prizes by the local distinguished persons attending the programme and speeches were given by Honorable MLA Sri Nirmal Ghosh, Sri Swapan Ghosh,Chairman, Panihati Municipality and Head of the local schools etc.

69th National Independence Day is celebrated in Panihati Municipality with National Flag hoisting by the Hon’ble Chairman of Paniahti Municipality in the Morning and by singing The National Anthem by all the Councillors and Municipal employees attending the programme. The venue of the National Independence Celebration at the Municipal compound has been colourfully decorated by the Municipal employees. Chairman Sir addressed the audience with his valuable note on our duties and responsibilities as the citizens of India and what we should do for our country’s progress and development. The sacrifice of our National Heroes in the struggle for Independence has been deeply remembered with great pride and honour by all and everyone felt a feeling of conviction in mind and soul to move forward our country and to protect it from all odds and dangers. Chairman Sir’s notes on 69th Independence Day of our country have also been placed in the Municipal website.

During August, Panihati Municipality has executed the enlisting of names of the persons eligible for food security facilities under National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013. This work is being taken up by almost all the Municipalities and Panchyat areas throughout West Bengal. The names have been included from all the 35 wards of Panihati Municipality till 31st August 2015.This programme has been done under the supervision and monitoring by the Officials of Panihati Municipality involving the ward councilors, community volunteers, civic police volunteers under the guidance of the Hon’ble SDO, Barrackpore. The programme involves training of the concerned officials and volunteers, campaigning through public announcements, distribution of leaflets, arrangements of camps at the ward level, social media publications etc. The main camp office has been arranged in the Lok Sanskriti Bhavan, Sodepur for distribution of forms to the concerned volunteers, providing required support and guidance to them and overall coordination of the whole process. West Bengal Govt. has organized wide scale campaigning of the programme through various Public Medias like newspapers, hoardings, banners, Television, Radio etc. to enhance the reach of this programme to every nook and corner of the society. The intent of the National Food Security Bill is spelled out in the Lok Sabha committee report, The National Food Security Bill,

2011, Twenty Seventh Report, which states, "Food security means availability of sufficient foodgrains to meet the domestic demand as well as access, at the individual level, to adequate quantities of food at affordable prices." The report adds, "The proposed legislation marks a paradigm shift in addressing the problem of food security – from the current welfare approach to a right based approach. Smt. Mamata Banerjee, The Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal has been kind enough to include the applications of the families whose names have not been included in the NFSA list prepared by West Bengal Food Supply & Distribution Department or in the Socio-Economic Caste Census Survey 2011 list so far but opting for the facility of food subsidy entitlements.

For Feedback and Suggestions Please Contact: Panihati Municipality

Panihati , North 24 Parganas, Pin no.- 700 114 Phone: 2553-2909/2563-4457 Fax : 2553-1487 Website- www.panihatimunicipality.in Email ID- panihatimunicipality@yahoo.co.in