Managing the water resources

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014

The Water Resources Investigation and Development Department manages 7999 irrigation projects across the state, involving 6.39 lakh hectares. In the tenure of the present government, 4000 minor irrigation projects have been completed and handed over to water users' committees of farmers.

The department has undergone a huge change in terms of the work culture as well as implementation of projects.

Reserve Water Preserve Water

With the cooperation of the Panchayat and Rural Development Department, 1,01,886 water preservation projects under the Reserve Water Preserve Water scheme have been created during the last two-and-a-half years, when the original target for five years was 50,000.

Extension of minor irrigation system

During the last two-and-a-half years, 65,000 hectares of irrigated land has been developed through the implementation of different minor irrigation schemes like setting up deep and shallow tube wells, digging of ponds, building jor bandhs, lifting of river water, etc. Apart from this, 12,480 hectares have been irrigated through field canal and water management projects.

WBADMIP with the financial assistance of the World Bank

• An additional irrigation potential of 1.39 lakh hectares would be created through the implementation of the West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation Project (WBADMIP), involving Rs 1380 crore, being financed by the World Bank.

• Meanwhile, 17 minor irrigation schemes covering 1224 hectares have been implemented. Another 133 projects are being implemented speedily.

Preservation of rain water and water investigation

• With a view to utilise the limited water resources to their full potential, the department has taken an initiative to preserve rainwater as an alternative. In this regard, 29 rainwater preservation and artificial groundwater refilling projects have been completed, and work for 23 more is going on in different districts.

• The Central Chemical and Hydrological Laboratory at Sech Bhavan, Salt Lake, has been modernised and developed to efficiently test the quality and chemical properties of water.

Revolution in irrigation in the region of Jangalmahal

• Long-neglected areas of Jangalmahal have started witnessing a revolution in irrigation. Till now, 196 minor irrigation projects have been completed, bringing 6187 hectares of land under the fold of irrigation.

• The process of distributing 1439 water-saving sprinkler-kits amongst the farmers has begun with the aim of starting a scientific minor irrigation project.

Reforming the Water Resources Investigation and Development Department

• West Bengal Ground Water Resources Act, 2005 has been amended to allow installation of pump-driven tube wells of 5 horsepower or less without the permits.

• In the present government’s tenure, in 2011, procedures and rules for the management of minor irrigation projects have been put in place.

• An effort has been started to provide irrigation facilities, through the dual usage of surface water and groundwater, to paddy farmers during the rabi and summer seasons.

• In different districts, solar power-driven pumping systems have been installed for using in minor irrigation projects.

• Besides these, the 5th minor irrigation census is going to be started soon.

Spreading awareness and empowering farmers

• Awareness programmes on water conservation have been taken up through newspapers, hoardings, bicycle rallies, documentaries and fairs in Kolkata as well as the districts.

• Till now, 390 agriculture and horticulture exhibitions and 118 training camps have been organised, and 548 water users' committees of farmers have been constituted.

Utilization of MPLAD Funds

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD Scheme) was launched to as a mechanism for Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend developmental works create community assets and provide facilities as per the local needs. This scheme was launched on 23rd December, 1993, and it has undergone significant enhancement till now. Starting from Rs 5 lakh in 1993-94, funding has been increased to Rs 5 crore per MP from 2011-12 onwards.

The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation acts as the nodal ministry responsible for policy formulation, release of funds and monitoring of scheme implementation. The role of MPs in this scheme is that of a recommending agent which direct local authorities to take up from scratch and complete the recommended work.

Funds for the work are completely centrally funded and its release depends on the kind of work recommended by the MP and the groundwork done on the matter by local authorities. This means any Member of Parliament’s seriousness to develop the constituency he/she represents can be gauged through analyzing the utilization of this fund.


West Bengal’s Utilization

As per the figures available on the official website of the scheme, mplads.nic.in, West Bengal got Rs 721 crore released under scheme out of which Rs 563.17 crore were spent on various developmental works. This amounts to utilization of 78.01% of the released amount. The data being analyzed belongs to the MPs of 15th Lok Sabha from the state so as to look deeper in to the local developmental work carried out by MPs and also to assess their performance on this front.


Trinamool Congress MPs fare better than the average

• Average utilization of MPLAD funds of AITC MPs comes around to 82.1% as compared to 78.01% state average.

• 15 out of the 19 AITC MPs belonging to the 15th Lok Sabha, have spent more than 79% of the funds released to their constituency under this scheme. This shows the vision of the party to work at the grass root level and make the life of the people better.

• Average expenditure by AITC MPs was Rs 16.09 crore per Member of Parliament as compared to Rs 11.58 crore by MPs from other parties.

• Some of the big spenders were Mr. Gobinda Chandra Naskar, Dr. Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Mr. Subrata Bakshi, Mr. Sheikh Nurul Islam and Mr. Dinesh Trivedi, with all the five MPs having a utilization of close to 85%.

• Majority of the funds spent through these schemes goes towards building roads and bridges, with other larger chunk going towards improving health and education facilities.

Municipal Affairs

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The fast pace of urbanization in the State has thrown a serious challenge to the urban planners. This has put tremendous pressure in the existing infrastructure and public service as well as causing more and more environmental pollution. On this context, one of the major challenges is to provide basic municipal services and to develop appropriate infrastructures that are often severely deficient in the growing urban centers. In last 34 months the government has brought several schemes and policies with the purpose of improving the infrastructure of the municipalities.


Release of vision document of municipalities

As per instruction of the state government, 124 municipalities have already released the vision document of development for their respective municipal areas.


Drinking water for all the city-dwellers

• Water supply project has been undertaken in 20 cities.

• In order to supply drinking water to the inhabitants of drought-prone areas of the state, several projects have been sanctioned with budgeted allocation of Rs 210 crore in 5 cities (i.e. Purulia, Raghunathpur, Bishnupur, Sonamukhi and Kharagpur).

• In the last two and a half years, water supply project in 12 small and medium towns has been completed. About 7 lakh of city-dwellers will be benefited out of this project.

• The water supply projects in 5 municipal areas have been completed

• Another 3 lakh city-dwellers will be benefited from this project.


Construction of dwelling house for slum-dwellers and urban poor people

• Rs 926 crore has been allocated in 94 projects for 80 municipalities outside the jurisdiction of Kolkata Municipality Corporation for the construction of houses for slum dwellers and urban poor people.

• Construction of 10,168 houses is going on. During the last two and a half years construction of 15,137 houses has been completed. Besides this, the government has sanctioned another 287 new houses.


Urban Beautification 

• Under the supervision of State Urban Development Agency and Municipal Engineering Directorate, the installation of decorative lamp-posts in 52 municipalities including Navadiganta Industrial Township has been completed.

• The installation of decorative lamp posts throughout the entire stretch of Belgharia Expressway has been completed.

• The installation of decorative lamp in more than 20 km of NH-34 (at both sides of the road), between Ultadanga and Barasat and on Jessore Road between R.G. Kar Hospital and Airport gate No. 1 has been completed.

• The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has completed the development work on river-bank in between Princep Ghat and Babughat, Armenian Ghat and Millenium Park at the eastern side of the river Hooghly.

• The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has completed the renovation work of 14 ghats on the river Hooghly and has done the beautification work of 16 main thoroughfare. Besides, KMC also undertook the preservation and development work of Ramakrishna crematorium, Bhukailash Rajbari extension and beautification of Nimtala crematorium.

• KMC also erected a large gate on the Kalighat Road.


Swarnajayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojona

To eradicate poverty in cities, the government has taken this scheme, with the objective of making unemployed and low-income group people self sufficient. Three-tier local people committee and community development organizations have been put up in place. In last two and a half years 1, 02,292 below poverty level unemployed youth have been trained in this scheme. The self help groups have participated in various fairs in assistance with municipalities and the State Government.


Right to Public Services Act, 2013

As per the Right to Public Services Act 2013, 105 municipalities have already published requisite notice for providing different services to the citizens.


Civic amenities through e-governance

• Significant progress has been made possible in providing civic amenities through integrated e-governance system.

• Birth and Death Certificates, Trade License is issued in 73 municipal bodies including Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

• In some municipalities, this system has been introduced for making building plans and collecting Municipal Taxes


Waste management

Kolkata Municipal Corporation has established Compactor Stations in different areas of the city for waste management.


Civic Amenities

A notification has been published in Kolkata Gazette; they have fixed definite targets in the fields of water supply, waste management, drainage and sewage


Preparation of City Development Plan

For preparing City development Plan for next five years, direction and training have been provided to all the municipalities.

Bengal Leads in Horticulture

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


In the 10 year period from 2001 to 2010, India has increased its production of horticultural products from 145.8 million tonnes to 240 million tonnes. This increase is more than the increase in area under cultivation of these crops, indicating an increase in productivity.

West Bengal leads all the states by producing 13% of overall production of horticultural crops. It produces about 30 million tonnes of horticultural products with accounting for more than one thirds (34%) of total flower production of the country and 3.85 million tonnes of fruits.

Endowed with five agro-climatic regions, West Bengal has the potential to be the food bowl of India. The recent impetus given to horticulture and food processing industries by the new government shows this intent.


Support for horticulture

12,900 farmers have received assistance for paying premium on crop insurance and 15 more products like chilli, mango, tomato etc. have been brought under its ambit. Farmers have been encouraged to opt for horticulture and this has led to increase of 15,611 hectare area under fruit cultivation, 1,609 hectare area under vegetable cultivation and 3,631 hectare area under flower cultivation, in past 34 months.


Encouraging scientific cultivation

Along with taking initiative for Tissue culture, grants have been awarded for Poly House and Shed Net House methods of cultivation which advocate better guarding of horticulture products during cultivation. Financial assistance has been provided to 2,857 farmers engaged in horticulture to buy equipment like tractor, power tillers, pump sets etc.


Achieving self dependence for Onions

To safeguard the residents from sudden price rise of Onions, a special initiative has been undertaken to achieve self dependence in Onions. This year Agrifound Dark Red species of onion has been cultivated in 303 hectares of land in Kharif season and an increase of 500 hectares of Agrifound light red species of onion cultivation has been witnessed in Ravi season.


Empowering our farmers

7 Krisak Utpadak Sangstha or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been formed in 7 different districts with strength of total 8,500 farmers. The main aim of these organizations is to eliminate middlemen from the process of marketing of the produce. Along with a Tissue Culture Laboratory at Ayespur, five Technology Extension Centres are being set up at different districts. Five dedicated horticulture markets are also being constructed in various districts. Agrihorti Food Fest was organized and 384 farmers were trained to apply technology in horticulture.


Developments in Food Processing

In just 34 months, 38 new food processing industries have been set up with an investment of Rs 312 crore. A modern slaughter house has been constructed with an investment of Rs 28.45 crore in Tangra. Also, yearly production capacity of grain mills has now increased by 2.4 lakh metric tons. These developments have resulted in generation of employment to the tune of 7.84 man days.


Encouraging entrepreneurs

Around 112 entrepreneurs have received training through 7 food-processing training cum production centers with another 238 undergoing the training. Financial grants, ranging from Rs 4 lakh for organizing a seminar to Rs 75 lakh for setting up a food processing centre, are being offered to encourage entrepreneurs so that they can come forward in the field of food processing. Additional grant of Rs 5 lakh has been given for construction of rice mill to 165 blocks which do not have a rice mill.


Apart from the above steps there has been a conscious and consistent effort from government’s side to establish and maintain better coordination between work related to development of horticulture and MNREGA scheme. For this effort, Bankura district, along with 8 other districts, has received a National Award.

The Government has also kept the interests of the common man in mind, as it has provided necessary financial assistance for the sale of onions, potatoes and vegetables through fair price shops.

Fisheries & Animal Resources Development

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Fisheries Department of the the Government of Bengal was first set up in the year 1911. Thereafter, on the recommendation of the Bengal Retrenchment Committee, the Department was abolished in the year 1923. The Department was again revived in the year 1942 as it was felt necessary to cope up with the growing needs for increase in production of fish by way of exploiting all the available impounded water resources in the then undivided Bengal primarily for two reasons: - (1) Love of fish in the diet for every Bengali family; (2) Increase in population.

Most of the poor people in rural areas of the State are dependent on mixed crop-livestock farming system for their livelihood. Animal Resources Development Department thus plays a major role in supplementing family income and generating gainful employment in the villages, particularly among the landless laborers, small and marginal farmers and especially women. The significance of the livestock sector in the economy of our State can be judged from the fact that it contributes 4.41% of the total SDP & 18.6% of the agricultural SDP.


Significant work has been done in both departments in the last 34 months

Special Assistance to the people living below poverty line: 1.7 crores poultry-chicks, 22,300 goats and 400 pigs have been distributed among the 3.6 lakh families living below the poverty line.

Health services for livestock and chicks: 3.77 crore chicks, ducks and livestock have been brought under the Animal Health Services and the vaccination of 4.97 crore livestock, chicks and ducks have been completed and also 30, 017 animal health camps have been organized.


Increase in production, preservation of milk and milk-product

• 18 milk chilling machines, having a capacity of 19,500 liters, have been purchased with an expenditure of rupees 75.25 lakh

• 3.05 lakh liters of milk (produced 2.6 lakh liters of milk in previous years ) was collected and rupees 488 crores have been earned through animal farm

• The reconstruction of the State Dairy has begun in Burdwan


Self-employment Scheme: Mother Dairy has engaged 2560 unemployed youths in self-employment schemes.

Live-stock Insurance: Insurance coverage at the cost of rupees 100.91 crores has been provided to 3.15 lakh of livestock and 2.5 lakh of heifer of hybrid variety. Nutritious fodder, medicine and vaccination were provided to them.

Fish for all, and fisheries in every water bodies: To conserve the native species of fishes and spawning of those species in inland water-bodies, fisheries are exercised in 212 water bodies.

Developed spawns: To develop the quality of fingerlings, steps have been taken through all spawn producing organizations. 77 lakh fingerlings had been released in large water-bodies under Social Fishery Scheme.

Conservation of Hilsa and Research Laboratory: To increase the number of Hilsa, a conservation and research laboratory had been established at Diamond Harbour

Loan to Fishermen in easy terms: Scientific fisheries have been started in 3369 hectare water bodies and loans in easy terms have been arranged under FFDA scheme.

Amendment in law to save water bodies: To save the water-bodies, the concerned law has been amended and that law is now being applied in rural panchayat area.

Old-age pension of the Fishermen: 7500 aged and disabled fishermen are getting rupees 1000 per month as old-age pension.

Bio-metric identity cards to sea-bound fishermen: 2.59 lakh sea-bound fishermen are benefiting under this scheme.

Sunderbans: The neglect is over

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Sunderbans, extending over an area of 10,00,000 hectares, is the world's largest delta, formed by the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghana rivers. The vast swampy delta extends over areas comprising of mangrove forests, swamps and forest island, all interwoven in a network of small rivers and streams. The Sunderbanss National Park, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the largest mangrove forest in the world, form the core of this area. With the unique Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site, plethora of potentials and problems, Sunderbans draws universal attraction. The Sunderbans region symbolizes the eternal global conflict between developmental and ecological values.


Building infrastructure

Around 60% of the mangrove forests of Sunderbans fall in Bangladesh, with the rest in India. The Indian part alone attracts close to 1,50,000 tourists every year. To cater to such ever increasing pressure of tourists and also the local population, there was an urgent need to develop infrastructure in the region which was overlooked for a past few decades. The new government has achieved important milestones in improving the condition in Sunderbans.

Improved accessibility: A total of 762 km of roads have been laid in the 19 blocks of the Sunderbans region, of which 162 km is metallic road and remaining 600 km is brick laid or concrete roads. This will help in better connectivity in the region for tourists and local population. 10 bridges, out of which 4 are near completion, are being constructed to connect various islands to the mainland. Around 90 jetties, including a concrete jetty especially for Gangasagar pilgrims, are being constructed to improve water transportation. Almost 39 km of canals have been desilted and 2 sports complexes are being constructed in Rajdighi and Canning.

Grid connectivity: 23 mouzas of the region are now grid connected for receiving electricity, in past 34 months. The West Bengal Electricity Distribution Company Limited, is working on extending this connectivity to 45 more mouzas of Gosaba and Patharpratima blocks.

Improving school infrastructure: 16 schools in the Sunderbans region are now accomplished with facilities like libraries, students’ hostels, lavatories, new classrooms etc. 6 girls’ hostels have also been planned in the region and construction has begun on one of the hostels. This would go a long way in helping the local communities to educate their children.


Better earning opportunities for locals

It is important to look after the well being of local population because only when they are happy, they could make the tourists happy. Two chief sources of earning in the Sunderbans region are agriculture and tourism, and the government has taken new steps for their growth.

Agriculture: 1,63,000 small and marginal farmers have been provided with Tested Seeds of sunflower, mung and elephant gourd, along with vermi-compost fertilizers and chemical fertilizers, to increase their quality of produce and in turn increase their income through agriculture. In past 34 months, 8,000 new ponds have been dug in order to conserve the rain water and bring more land under irrigation. 35,000 farmers have been provided with sprayers and paddy thrashing machines for farm mechanization. Also, 1369 tube wells have been installed to solve the problem of inadequate drinking water.

Pisciculture: To encourage fisher men of the region, close to 10,000 fishermen were provided with fish fodder and lime in the past two and a half years. Also, to encourage scientific method of pisciculture, 4050 fishermen have been given a special training on modern methods of pisciculture.

Tourism: Rs 48 crore project has been undertaken by the state government in association with World Bank for setting up eco-tourism at Sagar islands keep in center Kapilmuni temple and Gangasagar mela.

With all the development initiatives, there is also a need to balance the ecological needs of the region. The state government has been successful in achieving that in past two and half years of its governance. Afforestation has been completed in 1600 hectares of marshy land and Tamerisk (Jhau) tree has been planted in close to 875 hectares of land.

Youth: Preparing for the future

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Rabindranath Tagore once said, ‘Age considers; youth ventures’. The essence of the thought is that while the old and experienced put their wisdom to design the path of growth, it is the youth with all their exuberance venture on it and reach the goal. The role of the State then becomes to empower the youth with all possible knowledge and expertise, so that it can excel in nation building.

In this context, the steps taken by West Bengal government are commendable.


Computer education

900 computer training institutes have been started in collaboration with private entities with an aim to train students and youth in computers, so that they can excel in competitive examinations.


Promoting sport

To enable different clubs, schools and other sports organizations to buy sports equipment, financial assistance worth Rs 2 Lakh has been provided to each of the 341 blocks, 118 municipalities and 3 notified areas. This grant is apart from Rs 5 lakh given to each of the 5 municipal corporations and Rs 2 Lakh each to 15 Boroughs under Kolkata Municipal Corporation. Financial assistance in the range of Rs 25,000- 50,000 has been provided for the first time ever to 9,631 Middle and Higher Secondary schools, 499 colleges and 11 universities. Rs 23 crore has been sanctioned to build more than 1100 multipurpose gymnasiums across the state.


Infrastructure for youth affairs

17 new youth hostels have been renovated and upgraded across the state. Rs 76 crore has been invested in building 16 new youth hostels, apart from Rs 16 crore being spent on renovation and modernization of State Youth Centre in Moulali and Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan, so as to make them world class youth centre.


Community development centres

Community development centres are being constructed in each of the 18 marginalised villages of Jhargram sub-division in West Medinipur. The aim of these centres is to provide a platform to hold cultural programmes, run anganwadi centres and mid0day meal centres.


Chatra-Yuva utsav

Around 1 lakh people witnessed the opening ceremony of Chatra-Yuva utsav at Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan. This festival is aimed at involving youth and students to remember the traditional lineage of cultural activities in Bengal.


Jangalmahal

As this region was neglected for many decades, the new government in past 34 months has started a lot of initiatives to bring back the youth in the path of nation building. Some of the notable steps are construction of recreation complexes, gymnasiums, distribution of sports equipment, setting up vocational training centres, motor driving schools, development of play grounds, organizing Chatra-Yuva utsav and providing financial assistance to various sports clubs, youth organizations and other establishments.


Encouragement for adventure sports and mountaineering

The West Bengal Mountaineering and Adventure Sports has taken up many steps to encourage youth of the state to scale new heights. This includes financial assistance to individuals and organizations in activities like mountaineering, coastal trekking and cycle expeditions. A new award, i.e. Radhanath Sikdar – Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award has been constituted under this programme for awarding budding talent in these fields.


It is a testimony to the efforts of this government in mobilizing and encouraging youth to come forward and take up difficult tasks that after 2011, 6 mountaineers belonging to West Bengal have completed expedition to Mount Everest as compared to only 4 since independence to 2011. This has been possible because of the financial assistance Rs 6 lakh each to these mountaineers. To continue this encouragement, Rs 5 lakh each has been given to 9 more mountaineers in 2014.

It is because of these steps that one can be rest assured that now the youth is bound to be prosperous in the hands of this new government.

Urban Development

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Our world is going through an unprecedented demographic shift, from rural to urban areas. By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. The challenges these cities are facing in the developing world are enormous. Rapidly growing cities are under tremendous pressure to increase access to basic services, land, infrastructure, and affordable housing, especially for the poor.

About 80 percent of GDP has been generated in cities, and no state has ever been extended to middle-income status without successful urbanization. The Government of West Bengal believes successful cities are sustainable cities; green, inclusive, resilient, and competitive, with sound systems for planning, connecting and financing, and smart, participatory governance. The Government of  West Bengal is focused on every parameter of Urban Development.


Water Supply

• The Government has spent Rs 751 crore in various water supply projects

• The project of water supply system in the municipal areas of Baruipur at the expense of Rs 14 crore and Garulia at the expense of Rs 47 crore have already been completed

• The project of drinking water supply system at Dum Dum, South Dum Dum and North Dum Dum Municipal areas have been completed at the expense of Rs 312 crore

• Water supply project at Bhatpara municipal area at the expense of Rs 249 crore has been completed

• The project work of newly constructed water supply system at Geokhali-Chaitanyapur-Basudevpur in Haldia has been completed. The expenditure incurred for this purpose is Rs 65 crore

• The government has constructed a reservoir for pure water and also a pump house in the Haldia municipal area for the use of industry and at Basudevpur for the purpose of common people at the expense of Rs 64 crore

• The project of 100 MGD drinking water for the New Town-Nabadiganta-Bidhannagar-South Dum Dum area has been completed the expense of Rs 426 crore


Vehicle and Transport

• The construction work of Patipukur underpass has been completed at the expense of  Rs 19 crore

• Subway–Boimela Sarani has been constructed between book fair and Science City at an expense of Rs 2 crore

• The Bediapara underpass has been constructed near Dum Dum Junction at the expense of  Rs 14 crore

• The construction work of Jingirabazar-Batanagar flyover has been started at the expense of Rs 248 crore

• Rs 31 crores has been budgeted for the construction work of Garden Reach-Mount Road flyover. A plan for the construction of an inter-state bus terminus of 10 acre land in New Town has been undertaken


Urban Planning

Mandarmoni and Tajpur have been amalgamated to the Digha - Shankarpur Planning Area. Raghunathpur Planning Area has been declared. The Gangasagar–Bakkhali Development Authority has been set up.

Land Reforms

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


There is a notion prevailing amongst Corporates that it is a Herculean task to get land in West Bengal for setting up new industries or to expand the existing setup. The West Bengal government, at the outset, had made it extremely clear that it would not allow any forcible acquisition of land which would hurt the farmers. Simultaneously, it has developed a robust Land bank, supported by a visionary land policy, which has shown its impact in just 34 months.


A uniform Land Policy

To reduce discretion and increase transparency in dealing with the public assets, long term lease for 99 years with an option of renewal has been granted and it has been made mandatory to offer land for commercial use only to the highest bidder through the auction route. Especially for industrial development projects, only being the highest bidder won’t be the sole criteria but the final decision would rest upon pre-specified criteria based on acquisition costs, development charges and premium etc. It is an exhaustive policy which explains the process involved in land allotment for various sectors like education and medical facilities, and power. To encourage developers to work for the bottom of the pyramid, auction route has not been specified for construction of housing for poor, EWS and LIG.


Land for Industries

Land Bank: The state government can now offer about 1.06 lakh acres of land for setting up industries. The Land and Land Reforms department, which worked for two and a half years to create the land bank, has 76,000 acres while other departments account for 30,000 acres of land. This land was till now lying idle with various departments of the government.

Land allotted by WBIDC: Already 39 plots amounting to 1,829.68 acres have been allotted by West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation for various projects. This is poised to bring an investment of Rs 17,774.8 crore and provide employment to about 47,650 people. WBIDC has about 3,263 acres of land ready to be used for industrial development.

Land allocated under Section 14Y: About 7,170 acres of land has been recommended by the state government under Section 14Y which allows entrepreneurs to hold more than 24 acres of land after the amendment came into effect in 2012.

All these efforts have resulted in bringing many big industries in the state such as BAPL, Matrix fertilizers and Chemical LTD., South Asia Rubber and Polymers Ltd., Bengal Shipyard, Ultratech Cement Ltd., ACC Ltd etc. A total of 23 industrial parks are being set up in the state which will cater to diverse sectors like food, gems and jewellery, rubber, foundry, chemical etc.


Land for the landless

Increased rate of land reforms: While only 5,670 and 37,723 pattas were distributed to landless families during 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively, during the tenure of the present government 1,06,264 pattas have been handed over to landless families.

Use of technology: The e-governance initiatives to provide maps of landed property and particulars relating to title, not only help in earmarking suitable land for industries but also help common man to get land records within few hours at over the counter (OTC) e-governance service.

Increased Land Revenue: Implementation of information technology has led to increase in land revenue collection which rose to Rs 480 crore in 2012-13 as compared to Rs 380 crore in 2011-12. This year the number is poised to breach the Rs 500 crore mark.

The state government has balanced the needs of both, the farmers and the industry, and for that, it could be a role model for the country in implementing land reforms.

Fire & Emergency Services

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Fire Services in many States are still the concern of the resource starved local bodies. The lack of funds has been the main constraint in equipping the fire services and providing adequate fire safety cover to the population in a uniform manner. West Bengal government realizing this problem has taken many steps to improve funding and revamp fire and emergency services of the state.


New fire stations

In past 34 months, 30 new fire service centers have been sanctioned and 6 out of these newly sanctioned service stations have become operational. 9 fire stations are being constructed in rural areas.


Modern control room

To cope with emergency situations, ultra modern control rooms have been established at various centers. These centers are equipped with web based vehicle tracking system through GPS navigator, EPABX system etc. to monitor the movements of fire brigade vehicles.


Fire fighting equipment

To combat fire at congested slum areas. 36 Special fire fighting motor cycles equipped with water-mist technology and small fire brigade vehicles have been procured. 2 high powered hydraulic ladders have been imported from Finland, having a reach of up to 50 meters. 16 high-power fire-brigade vehicles, 15 mid-sized water tenders, 48 operation vehicles, 20 high power portable pumps and many other conventional firefighting equipment like smoke exhauster machines, portable lighting towers, toeing vehicles, air-compressor machines, fire-fighting trolleys with high power water-mist technology etc. have been procured.


Enhancing communication and awareness

With 200 high powered walkie-talkies and dedicated mobile phone sets, a new system interconnecting all fire stations of the state has been created. A number of functions and festivals organized by the state government have been used as a platform to educate people about fire safety.


Training

A new diploma course has been started by Fire and Emergency Services Department in association with Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management on fire management. This would help in training of fire staff and also prepare an educated manpower for other states in the field of fire services. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed with Security Sector Skill Development Council (SSSDC) to impart training to 20,000 people on security, fire-fighting and first-aid.


In the past two and a half years, there were more than 25,000 cases of fire incidents. Acting bravely during these incidents the fire and emergency services personnel have saved close to 4,500 human lives and Rs 500 crore worth of property. Also, to make it simpler for the general public to obtain the clearances required from the department, it is looking to start online initiatives.

Conserving the forests

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


As per Forest Survey of India, the total recorded forest cover of West Bengal is 13.4% of total geographic area of the state. The forest cover, including forests created outside the recorded forest area is 15.52% of total geographic area of West Bengal which was assessed through satellite imagery. Reserved forests constitute 59%, protected forests 32% and unclassed forests constitute 9% of the total forest area of the state.

Around 3.3% of the state comes under Protected Areas consisting of 5 National Parks and 15 Wildlife Sanctuaries. A special mention must go to Sunderbans which has been declared as a biosphere reserve due to its unique ecosystem and also a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The new state government is determined to conserve these forests and help local communities through sustainable livelihood solutions.


Increasing and conserving forest cover: During the past 34 months, government has planted 6.2 crore saplings in close to 10,000 hectare area. This step also provided employment to the tune of 78.6 lakh man days. About 4,386 Bon Suraksha committees have been formed to conserve forests. A new body, West Bengal Wasteland Development Corporation Limited, has been formed and it has completed tree plantation over 1,260 acres of land.


Eco-tourism: A total of 20 eco-tourism projects have been undertaken by West Bengal Forest Development Corporation comprising of 17 projects for North Bengal and 3 for South Bengal. The main aim is to provide more livelihood opportunities to local communities as the more tourists visit these places. Construction has begun in many locations and Lamahata eco-tourism project has already received completion.


Benefits to the people: As there are many Kendu (Tendu) leaves gatherers in forest area, government has increased the procurement of these leaves from Rs 48 per chata (2000 leaves) to Rs 75 per chata, benefitting a lot of families especially in rural and tribal areas. Rs 4.5 Cr has been distributed as compensation to all families who lost any member of their family or has their crop damaged because of wild animals.


Increase in revenue: There has been an increase of 38% in revenues from forest wood during the tenure of new government, with revenue for 2012-13 being Rs 104.24 crore as compared to Rs 75.33 crore in 2010-11.


International assistance: The state government is taking international assistance in its quest to conserve bio-diversity. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is assisting West Bengal in a Rs 406 crore project where as World Bank is assisting with Coastal Zone Management Project at Purba Medinipur.

Food for all

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Food and Supplies department under the West Bengal Government has been working hard for the last three years to increase the foodgrain procurement in the State as well as provide food for all. From reforming the Public Distribution System (PDS) to providing rice at nominal price to the socially and financially backward sections of the society, the Trinamool led West Bengal Government has worked for the people.


Food for the poor

About 3.20 crore socially and financially backward people are being provided with rice at the rate of Rs 2 per kg. Some noteworthy regions/places whose people are getting the benefit of this initiative are:

• Jangalmahal region (West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia)

• Aila-affected region of the Sunderbans

• Closed tea gardens

• People from some endangered tribes such as Birhar, Lodha, Shabar

• Unwilling peasants of Singur

• Vagabonds of Kolkata

• Seven tribal-dominated blocks in Birbhum district (people from the Toto community) are getting rice and wheat free of cost.


Greater procurement

• The quantity of rice procurement has exceeded 20.5 lakh MT during the kharif season of 2012-13, which is the highest ever in the last few couple of decades.

• During the last-two-and-a-half years, warehouse capacity has been enhanced from 40,000 MT to 1.03 lakh MT for preservation of food grains. The work of constructing more warehouses, having a total capacity of 3 lakh MT, is going on in full swing.


New infrastructure

• New Khadya Bhawans have been constructed at eight places - Ghatal, Krishnanagar, Kalna, Cooch Behar, Barrackpore, Jalpaiguri, Mekhligunge and Bangaon.

• Construction of Khadya Bhawans at 14 more places - Dinhata, Mathabhanga, Tehatta, Diamond Harbour, Barasat, Bankura, Howrah, Arambagh, Raghunathgunge, Bishnupur, Uluberia, Jhargram, Midnapore and Kashipur - is going on.

• The proposal for construction of a 14 more Khadya Bhawans/Inspection Buildings - at Domkal, Egra, Tufangunge, Kurseong, Asansol, Contai, Burdwan, Lake Gardens (Kolkata), Mukutmanipur, Santiniketan, Meteli, Digha, Bidhannagar and at the headquarters of the Food and Supply Department in Kolkata - has been taken up.

• In order to make the offices of the Food and Supplies Department in 115 blocks more popular, they are being modernised. Those in the rest of the blocks, which is 226, will start shortly.


Reforming the PDS

• The work of computerisation of PDS is going on at a cost of Rs 112 crore. Digitisation of ration cards and their entry into a database is under process. Till now, 4.35 crore digitised ration cards have been prepared. The remaining cards will be prepared by March 2014.

• More than one crore forged and bogus ration cards have been revoked since May 2011. The government is providing a subsidy amounting to Rs 1000 crore in PDS for the benefit of poor people.

• Non-PDS items have been made available in ration shops at fair prices for the benefit of the common people. A Retail Marketing Centre is going to be made operational in Kolkata.


Managing the distribution of foodgrains

• To prevent smuggling of subsidised foodgrain, a transport system using vehicles having a special colour scheme has been introduced.

• Important information relating to the distribution of foodgrains through public distribution system is being disseminated regularly to people's representatives and local inhabitants through SMS.


Assistance to farmers

Zero-balance accounts have been opened in favour of the farmers who sell paddy to the government and government-appointed agents. They are being paid the selling price of paddy through account payee cheques.


Use of modern technology

A modern laboratory has been set up at Khadya Bhawan in Kolkata. This will ensure that rice, flour, wheat, edible oil and other food items distributed through the public distribution system (PDS) are of good quality.

Minority Development

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Ever since the Trinamool Congress led by Ms. Mamata Banerjee came to power in West Bengal, special focus has been given to the development of minority communities in the state. The Government works for all, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion. In the last two-and-a-half years, various scholarships worth Rs 993.2 crore have been conferred on 57 lakh students from minority communities.


Scholarships for students: From 2006-07 to 2010-11, only 8.69 lakh students were given scholarships worth Rs 193 crore whereas in 2012-13 alone, 17.72 lakh students were conferred scholarships worth Rs 298 crore. In the financial year 2013-14, till date, scholarships worth Rs 417 crore have been provided to 22.77 lakh students.

More credit for self-employment: During the tenure of this government, credit amounting to Rs 462 crore has been provided to 2.5 lakh minority youths for self-employment. During 2010-11, credit worth Rs 30 crore was given to 5637 people, whereas during 2012-13, credit worth Rs 208 crore has been given to 1.21 lakh people. In financial year 2013-14, till date, 69,000 youths have been provided with credit worth Rs 112 crore.

More reservation in government jobs and higher studies: 94.5% of total Muslim population of the state has been provided reservation in jobs and higher studies.

Due to the continuous efforts of the government of West Bengal and as an outcome of a long-standing demand, the government of India has enlisted 37 new communities as OBCs, out of which 35 are minority communities. This will enhance the scope of education and jobs among Muslims.

Providing bicycles to facilitate education: Bicycles have been provided to 1.82 lakh girl-students from minority communities.

Recognizing Urdu language: Urdu has been recognised as an official language in areas where the Urdu-speaking population is 10% or more of the total. Branches of Urdu Academy are going to be opened in Asansol and Islampur.

New initiatives in the education sector:

• Work for the construction of a new medical college at the border of North and South 24 Parganas, seven polytechnic colleges and 24 ITIs in minority-dominated areas across the state is underway. 238 new hostels are being built for minority students.

• An additional few thousand teachers for 614 madrasahs will be appointed. Besides, construction work for 12 English-medium madrasahs has started. Two new buildings of Aliah University, at Rajarhat and Gorachand Road in Kolkata, are being built at a cost of Rs 298 crore.

• Courses on education (B Ed) and Islamic theology, and the higher secondary section of Anglo-Persian School have recently been inaugurated at the new campus of Aliah University. These have opened a new door for higher studies for minority students.

• 614 madrasahs across the state have been given a total of Rs 3.57 crore as laboratory grant and Rs 2.61 crore as library grant, and 87 madrasahs have been given computers worth Rs 3.68 crore.

• Three thousand seven hundred and fifty madrasah teachers are being trained to acquire B Ed and D L Ed certificates.

Steps for the security of cemeteries: Rs 66 crore has been provided for reforming 1400 burial grounds.

Construction of Haj-house: Construction of the third Haj-house for Haj Pilgrims is going on. Under the Geetanjali and Natun Bari housing projects, 1.48 lakh minority-community families have been given financial help to construct houses.

Marketing hubs to facilitate self-employment: Construction of marketing hubs in 212 blocks have started, with the aim being to construct 500 such hubs across the state. Of these, 109 marketing hubs are being constructed by the Department of Minority Affairs to market products made by minority self-help groups. To provide more employment opportunities, 2.66 lakh people have been given training.

Minority-community buildings in the districts: Eighteen minority-community buildings in 18 districts have been planned; out of this, 15 have already been completed.

Infrastructure development under Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP): Under this project, 11,196 new anganwadi centres, 944 sub-health centres, 10,164 additional classrooms in schools and 12,421 tube wells have been constructed.

Public Works: An important cog in the wheel of governance

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Intentions of good governance and all the plans surrounding it may get tossed up in thin air if there isn’t enough infrastructural support to various departments for their developmental work. Public works department is responsible for providing adequate infrastructural support to both original and repair works of all the departments directly under the Government of West Bengal as well as different semi-government and government undertakings etc. so that they can successfully deliver their assigned services. This support includes buildings, roads, bridges, electrification, sanitary plumbing, air-conditioning, fire-fighting & detection, lifts, water supply, Generators, EPABX, information technology etc.


Developments in Jangalmahal

Under the backward regions grant fund (BRGF) a total length of 2,281 km of roads were sanctioned, out of which 1,163 km of roads have been completed. 16 bridges have been constructed in the region along with widening and strength of 210 km of roads. 12 new schools with hostels, 1 Primary Teacher Training Institute, 74 girls hostels having 50 seat capacity each, 4 new colleges, 3 stadiums, 1 sports academy, 1 polytechnic institute, 2 industrial training institutes (ITI) and 1 state data centre (SDC) have been taken up for construction. 48 girls’ hostels and 1 stadium have already been constructed. A total of 422 projects out of 621 under state plan have been completed.


National highways

Around 540 km of national highways have been widened and strengthened in the past 34 months, which has improved connectivity and comfort in transportation.  7 bridges and 2 flyovers are also being constructed on different national highways. A large bridge has already been completed which connects Malda district in West Bengal with Katihar district in Bihar over Fulahar River at Nakatia.


Improving health infrastructure

Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) hospital has witnessed a lot of improvement in its infrastructure in the past two and a half years. It includes new seven storied Rheumatology department, a two storied shelter room of people accompanying patients, trauma centre and a new academic block for its students. Linear Accelerator Facility has been constructed in Radiotherapy department at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College. In Uluberia sub-divisional hospital, a labour room and a Neo-natal unit have been constructed.


Building new educational infrastructure

As West Bengal government is trying to create new institutions to propel growth in education sector, it requires a faster delivery of necessary infrastructure for new colleges and universities. Some of notable developments in this field are the construction of Government Engineering College and Leather Technology building at Salt Lake along with Minorities’ Building and Meeting halls for minorities and madrassah education at Hooghly, which have been completed.  Construction is going on for Women’s university, Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Aliah University etc.


New roads and bridges

Around 4,000 km of roads have been made double lane in the past 34 months. 16 bridges and 5 flyovers also been completed in the period. Rs 170 crore bridge is being constructed at rapid pace over the river Subarnarekha at Bhasaraghat in Paschim Medinipur. Also, developmental proposal of constructing Asian Highways, AH-2 (Nepal to Bangladesh) and AH-48 (Bhutan to Bangladesh, under the aegis of South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation has been adopted.


A big landmark for the public works department was the completion of Nabanna. Renovation of Writer’s building has started after shifting the State’s Secretariat to Nabanna, which took about 2 months. Public works department has displayed that it has all the capabilities to handle the requirements of fast paced reconstruction of the state and to enhance its efficiency; it has started e-Tendering and e-Procurement, which is a great initiative.

West Bengal: Safe drinking water for all

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


In July 2010, the United Nations declared access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. Even the 7th Millennium Development Goal calls for halving the proportion of population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.

West Bengal is endowed with about 7.5% of the water resource of the country. About 60% of the water resource is available in North Bengal with the rest available to South Bengal. As per a report on West Bengal action plan on climate change, the State is facing inadequate and erratic rainfall in successive years mainly in South Bengal districts. Coupled with this is the problem of high arsenic and fluoride content in state’s ground water. Realizing the consequences of these problems and to build a healthy state, the government has taken many steps for providing clean drinking water to the state’s population.


Serious about the threat

Vision 2020: For the first time a vision document has been prepared by the government for rural areas, underlining the short term and long term goals for supplying safe drinking water. The document entails projects worth Rs. 1,295 crore for short term and worth Rs. 21,125 crore for long term. Rs. 5,640 crore has already been sanctioned under the plan, benefitting 1.1 crore population of drought prone districts of South Bengal, through 383 projects of rural pipelined water supply which will also benefit people of salt and arsenic prone areas of North and South 24 Paraganas.

Arsenic free drinking water: Close to 130 lakh villagers, which amount to 78.4% of the total population of arsenic prone districts, are being provided arsenic free water through pipelines. This effort marks 96% completion of the current master plan of the new government in just 32 months.

Fluoride free drinking water: Rs. 1580 crore worth of projects have been taken up to supply fluoride free water to 43 fluoride prone blocks in 7 districts.

Solar energy in water projects: For the first time in West Bengal solar energy is being used to supply water in the drought prone areas where 704 such projects are going on with an estimated expense of Rs. 51.67 crore.

Projects in Jangalmahal: 47 projects, out of a total of 50, have been implemented in Jangalmahal area amounting to an investment of Rs. 141.7 crore and benefitting close to 3.7 lakh people in the region.

Project in association with JICA: Close to 29 lakh people of Purulia district are set to benefit from Rs. 1,173.1 crore worth project which has received financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Innovative initiatives: 14 mobile water purification units which have drinking pouch vending machine as well, have been commissioned across the state to help distressed people during floods or droughts.  State has also ventured to produce bottled drinking water Prandhara with 8 bottling plants across the state.


Parting Thought

It is worth noting that in the last 34 months, the state government has completed 416 rural pipelined water supply projects and installed 54,935 tube wells at an expense of Rs. 1,777 crore which has resulted in benefitting 37 lakh people. In a recent report of National Sample Survey Organization on ‘Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing’, West Bengal has emerged as the state where highest proportion of households, has to travel less than 500 m to fetch drinking water in urban areas, a credential which the so called developed states failed to earn.

Housing for all

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Shelter is a basic human need next only to food and clothing. At the end of the 12th Five Year Plan, the housing shortage is estimated to be 40 million. In last 34 months, the West Bengal Government has initiated several policies, so that they can provide shelter to the homeless people of the state.


Gitanjali and Aamar Thikana under E.W.S Scheme

The construction work of 94,180 houses is going on under E.W.S project in rural areas for the financially weak people. 720 flats have been constructed at New Town and Rajarhat under ‘Gitanjali’ prakalpo which will be distributed to the homeless people of those areas.


Motels for convenience of the common man

• A plan has been undertaken to construct Motels or Passenger Facilitation Centers for convenience of the passenger at every 50 km distance beside the state highways and other important roads

• Those Motels have been named as ‘Pothosathi’

• Construction work of 12 Motels are in the final stage. Those are 1) Raghunathpur 2) Karjana 3) Santipur 4) Haringhata 5) Krishnanagar 6) Diamond Harbour 7) Pailan 8) Baharampur 9) Nandakumar 10) Jamaldaha 11) Bagdogra 12) Chalsah

• Additionally, construction work of 18 Motels has also begun at 1) Jhargram 2) Kharagpur 3) Farakka 4) Old Malda 5) Patiram 6) Mathapukur 7) Tarakeswar 8) Debra 9) Narayangarh 10) Pankhabari 11) Sukhna 12) Tapan 13) Hili 14) Bagnan 15) Rampurhat 16) Gaighata 17) Ashoknagar 18) Petrapole


Night Shelters

80 bedded ‘Night shelters’ have been constructed at the Nilratan Sirkar Medical College and Hospital for convenience of the relatives of the patients. The construction work is in its final stage. ‘Night Shelter’ of the same kind is also being constructed at Diamond Harbour District Hospital.


Rental hostels for working women

Construction work of a 40 bedded hostel (Ananya) at Durgapur has been completed. One 44 bedded hostel (Sayamsiddha) at Salt Lake has been renovated. Construction of a hostel will start at Ibrahimpur and in Jadavpur.


Housing for Government employees

• 50 thousand houses will be constructed for the Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ government employees under ‘Akankha’ prakalpo

• Among these, the PWD will construct 30 thousand houses and the Housing Department will construct 20 thousand houses. Primarily, 100 crore has been allotted for this purpose

• In this project, employees will get land at very low prices. They will also be provided with loans on easy terms and with the facility of repayment in installments

• The construction works of 48 flats at Bishnupur and 24 flats at Diamond Harbour are over

• The construction works of 60 flats at Khatra, 24 flats at Bachhurdoba in Jhargram and 48 flats at Ghatal, are on the verge of completion

• The construction work of the new Rental Housing Estate (G+10) at Salt Lake for the high-ranking government officials has been started


Pratyasha - Housing for police personnel

Provision for housing for police personnel has been facilitated through Pratyasha Prakalpo. In this project, almost 10 thousand houses will be constructed within next three years. This project includes the facility of repayment of loans through EMI.


L.I.G./M.I.G Housing

The entire construction works of 48 flats for the people from low income group (LIG) at New Town - Rajarhat and 48 flats for the people from middle income group (MIG) are on the way of completion.


Auditorium

A new auditorium has been constructed at Kusthia.


Noteworthy decisions

• Entire ‘Quota’ system has been abolished regarding flat distribution in the Housing department and in all the other undertaken departments

• A special scheme has been made for arranging accommodation for the Bangabibhusan awardees, which does not have any residence in Kolkata.

• All the information of Housing Department (http://www.wbhousing.gov.in/) and Housing Board (http://www.wbhousingboard.in/) is being regularly published for the people through the official website.

• Seniority based and computerized distribution of flats has been started in R.H.I, P.R.H.E and Housing Board.

• An initiative has been taken to install online system to make the entire system more transparent.

• Housing Board has given sanctions for distribution of flats to 608 persons from L.I.G under new ‘STARLIT’ prokalpo and 560 persons from M.I.G. under new ‘MOONBEAM’ prokalpo.

Paschimanchal Unnayan

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


In the year 2001, a high level committee constituted by the Government of West Bengal identified a region situated along the western fringe of south-west West Bengal as one of the most backward regions in the state. The committee was formed at the instance of department of Development and Planning and it named the area as Paschimanchal Unnayan Parshad Area (PUPA).

PUPA consists of 74 blocks of Birbhum, Bankura, Burdwan, Paschim Medinipur and Purulia districts including 23 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) blocks. A new department ‘Department of Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs’ was formed in the year 2006 to better address the issue. The new government has strengthened the resolve to develop Paschimanchal in a big way in the past 34 months.


Increase in funding

From 2006-07 to 2010-11, the PUPA received funding in the range of Rs 1,989 lakh to Rs 5,392 lakh. The highest released amount i.e. Rs 5,392 lakh was released in the year 2008-09. After the change of guard in Kolkata, this funding increased to Rs 7,604 lakh for the year 2011-12, an increase of 41% over the maximum funding given by the earlier government.


Education

A total of 33 new hostels for school students have been constructed and infrastructure of 88 schools has been developed in the past two and a half years. A vocational training centre has been established in Bankura.


Health Services

6 Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers have been constructed in Purulia along with 5 in Pashchim Medinipur and 4 in Bankura. Raipur Rural Hospital, Jhargram District Hospital and Deben Mahato Hospital in Purulia, have been modernized and Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) has also been established in these hospitals. Mobile Medical Camp had been arranged at Jangalmahal area along with a referral eye hospital which has been constructed in Purulia. A Nursing Training College is also being constructed at Lalgarh, Paschim Medinipur.


Irrigation system

Around 16 river lift irrigation systems have been renovated with 9 in Paschim Medinipur and 7 in Bankura. 4 Canals have been renovated in Bankura district along with construction of 2 deep tube wells. A total of 29 deep tube wells have also been constructed in Paschim Medinipur. More than 216 projects on constructing check dams, digging and renovation of ponds have been completed in past 34 months.


Improving connectivity in the region

In the past two and a half years more than 400 concrete, bituminous and paved roads and bridges have been constructed in the region to improve the transport infrastructure.


Providing shelter and drinking water

Under the Geetanjali Project, a total of 4,661 houses have been constructed for economically backward people. Construction of 712 Anganwadi centers has been started in Bankura, Purulia, Burdwan and Birbhum in this financial year. Close to 1200 tube wells have been installed for drinking purposes in the 5 PUPA districts along with supply of purified drinking water in 20 Rural Health Centers in Paschim Medinipur and Bankura.


Improving livelihood opportunities

5,000 families have benefitted through Lac cultivation in Purulia district which was promoted by the new government. With help of scientists from Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University, farmers from Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia are being encouraged to cultivate onion and turmeric through non-conventional methods which will bear fruit in future. Financial assistance has also been provided to construct a tourism centre at the foothill of Susunia.

Backward Classes Welfare & Tribal Development

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


The Backward Classes Welfare Department is entrusted with various welfare activities for the people of SC, ST and OBC communities. The main focus of this department is on the educational upliftment of the people belonging to Backward Classes living in this state.


Department of Tribal Development

The present government has created the Department of Tribal Development to uplift the overall standard of living of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The first meeting of the newly constituted Tribes Advisory Council, formed by representatives of various tribes, has already taken place.


Tribal Development in the Terai region

Hindi as a language will be included in the graduate and post-graduate curriculum of North Bengal University. keeping the demands of tribal students in mind. Banarhat College (Hindi medium) will start functioning from August 2014. Hindi medium schools will start in Banarhat, Matiali and Kalchini. The government is supplying rice to the workers of closed tea gardens at Rs 2 per kg.


Special reservation

A historic decision towards 17% reservation for OBC students in government-aided higher education centres has been made during the tenure of the present government. It will be introduced in the academic year 2014-15. The step has been taken without reducing the number of seats earmarked for general students.

The government of India has recently enlisted 37 new groups as Bengal, as a result of relentless endeavour and a long-standing demand of the government of West Bengal. Of these, 35 are from minority communities. As a consequence, scopes for the education and the employment of backward classes will be widened.


Tribal Development in the Hills

The State Government has taken positive steps for the development of various ethnic people on the hills. The Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board was formed in 2012 for the socio-economic and cultural development of the Lepcha community, besides the implementation of the GTA Agreement. The Lepcha Development Board was registered as a separate society on August 5, 2013.

Rs 1 crore has already been sanctioned to the Board for the growth of education and culture under the plan-head. One thousand women have been identified as beneficiaries of houses to be built under the Rangee scheme. Rs 50 crore has been granted for this project, out of which Rs 20 crore has already been sanctioned to the Development Board under the plan-head.


Formation of Tamang Development Board

The state government has recently constituted the Tamang Development Board for the overall growth of Tamang and other communities and to preserve Tamang culture and traditions. This Board will also look into matters related to the development of other communities.


Inclusion of 11 groups in the list of scheduled tribes

The union government has been requested by the state to induct 11 groups, including the 10 ethnic groups of Darjeeling - Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Yogi, Khas, Rai, Sunuar, Thammi and Iksa (Dewan) - and Dhimal, in the list of scheduled tribes.


Other welfare projects

• Giving bicycles to girl students reading in classes IX to XII in order to encourage them to continue with their studies

• Scope for applying online for caste certificates and different scholarships for students

• Scope for construction of houses under the Geetanjali project

• Arrangements for the availability of individual/collective land deeds under the Forest Rights Act

• Loans and grants according to the terms and conditions of the concerned financial enterprise (Aranya Shakti Prokalpa)

• Many people pluck kendu leaves from jungles and sell them. Keeping this in consideration, the price of kendu leaves has been enhanced from Rs 48 per chatta to Rs 75 per chatta.

• Special training in subjects, including spoken English, computer education, etc. under the monitoring of internationally famous institutions for employment in private sectors.

• Education loans under easy terms and conditions for professional and technical higher education.

Tourism: Unleashing the potential

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


West Bengal has all the diversities of nature. The snow capped peaks of the Himalayas, Darjeeling, referred by many as the Queen of Hill Stations, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway declared as a World Heritage Site, the vast tea estates of the Dooars, the famed Royal Bengal Tiger of Sunderbans, the innumerable historical landmarks of India’s and Bengal’s glorious history, and long unending beaches with gentle rolling sea lined with Casuarina forests, are all wonders for the prospective tourists. Given the variance of the tourism sites in the State, West Bengal has something to offer throughout the year.


Performance of the sector

West Bengal has managed to attract 3-3.7% of domestic tourists, as a percentage of total domestic tourists of India. It performs much better in terms of foreign tourists by attracting close 8% of all foreign tourists coming to India. It is worth noting that this share of foreign tourists was close to 10.5% in year 2003 and it decreased gradually to 8.33% by 2010. Though the number of tourists has been increasing every year but as a share of total tourists of the country, state has not performed that well. This is the reason why there is increased focus to promote the tourism of the state by the new government.


Development of Tourism through Public Private Partnership Model: The state government has adopted the Public Private Partnership Model, followed worldwide. It includes Tourism Parks, Lodge (both economic and luxurious), Amusement Parks, Adventure sports, Helicopter and Sea- Transport services and numerous revenue earning projects.


Cultural Tourism: Cultural Tourism is, nowadays, considered to be an integral part of general tourism and the department of Tourism is trying to uphold enriched cultural pluralism of this state. Besides, Bauls, Chhou performers, flouteplayers etc., the Pata artists, creators of handicraft designs, experts in Kantha stiching, the Dokra fine-artists have been included in all the street exhibitions at home and abroad as part of this cultural tourism. The presence of these artists in the large-scale tourism-centric programme in London and Berlin has made the pavillion of West Bengal an important centre of attraction. In order to make available for the tourists, these kinds of cultural assets through lodging, centres of skill development, exhibitions and sales counters, the Department of Tourism at the same time, is upholding rural tourism.


Home Tourism: The Department of Tourism has laid special emphasis on Home Tourism in various tourist centres specially in Derjeeling and Dooars.


Heritage Tourism: Keeping in view enormous cultural and historical heritage, the state government has taken up a plan for the development of heritage sites of Malda and Murshidabad and the temples of Bishnupur from the viewpoint of tourism development. A project on tourism has been taken on Motijheel in Murshidabad involving Rs. 14 crore.


Beautification of Cities: A lot of projects have been undertaken for beautification of Kolkata, a city of heritage. One of these projects is the beautification of the river Ganga involving Rs 20 crore.

Besides, a project is being implemented by the Department of Tourism in view of maintenance, renovation and cultural artefacts of colonial heritage on the both sides of the river Hooghly with the assistance of the concerned embassies.


Taking tourism to remote destinations: Special emphasis has been laid on spread of tourism in places which has not yet captured the imagination of the tourists. It includes construction of tourist lodge at Gangarampur in the district of Dakshin Dinajpur, and construction of guest houses at Ramganga and Patharpratima in the district of South 24 Parganas. This apart, a district-wise narrative list of tourism destinations has been prepared.


Publicity: Keeping in view the marketing of the 'RUPASI BANGLA' (Beautiful Bengal), the Department of Tourism has been participating relentlessly in the Travel & Tourism Fairs organised at home and abroad. Few of these are International Trade Fair, IITM, IATO Annual Convention, WTM London, ITB Berlin etc.


Parting Thought

West Bengal has seen increased participation in, both domestic and international, travel and tourism fairs with more efforts towards renovation of tourist lodges and construction of new tourist lodges, and enabling connection to even the remote tourist locations, the future of tourism in West Bengal is looking bright.

Panchayat & Rural Development: Empowering our villages

Tanmay Mondal
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


In the last two and half years of the All India Trinamool Congress led Ma, Mati, Manush Government in West Bengal, the grassroots bodies have been empowered through Panchayat and rural development. West Bengal has in fact been honoured with global awards for rural development and also secured the top rank among states in the implementation of 100-days job scheme.

Seven Gram Panchayats, two Panchayat Samitis and two Zila Parishads will receive these awards. The Union Ministry of Rural Development had assessed the work performed by all the Gram Panchayats during the financial year 2012-13. The sectors of assessment included administrative work, production and other measures.

Earlier in January the district of Bankura has received the District Award for Effective Initiatives under MGNREGA administration in the category of `Enhancing Livelihood through Convergence with MGNREGA` while Lego Gram Panchayat in Kotulpur Block, Bankura has received the award for being one of the 11 Best Performing Gram Panchayats. The Awards were received on February 2, 2014 on the occasion of the 9th MGNREGA Day by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.


Strong measures for empowerment of women

• After amendment of West Bengal Panchayat Act reservation of seats for women in each tier of Panchayat has been enhanced from one-third to half.

• More empowerment of people belonging to other Backward Classes. So far the reservations were only for the representatives of women, members of Scheduled Castes and tribes.

• This government has facilitated the participation of OBCs in the Panchayats through reservations.


Villagers build their own villages

• A new milestone has been laid upon in 100-day work project.

• Man-days which have been created during the last two- and-a-half years are greater than the sum total of man-days created through preceding years.

• During the fiscal year 2012-13 man-days of 20 crore 18 lakh have been made

• During 2012-13, this Government has stood first in terms of spending 107% of the allotted funds and, along with Job has been provided to 58 lakh of families, with an expenditure of rupees 4,688 crore.

• West Bengal has created unparalleled precedence by making man-days out of 109% of Labour budget


The path itself is the Pathfinder

On 7 January, 2014 a unique and unparalleled initiative has been brought up for creating 16,000 k.m. length of road which can be utilized in whole seasons in each of the gram Panchayats. This particular effort will produce roughly 3 crore 50 lakh of man-days across the state.


Gram Sadak Yojana

On an average 1,069 k.m. of road has been constructed up to 2010-11 under the Gram Sadak Yojana, the road-length constructed during the tenure of this government becomes 1,978 km on average. Till January 2014 construction work of 255 roads, under the project of Gram Sadak Yojana, covering 1,016 km has been concluded, with an expenditure of rupees 558 crore.


Extension of Nirmal Bangla following proper sanitation

By the year 2017 'Sanitary Lavatories' will be made in all the houses with the objective of building up Nirmal Bangla. Work for lavatories, solid and liquid waste management in schools and Anganwadi centres is working along.


My Home, My Right

The construction work of houses for the rural poor families, with the assistance of IAY Scheme, is going on at a rapid pace. During the period of last two-and-a-half years more than 4.5 lakh of dwelling houses have been built. Help for building houses under Adhikar Prokalpo was provided to 25 thousand families in 11 territories.


Anandadhara Bahichhe Bhubane

More than 50 thousand Self-help Groups were constituted in last two years under the Anandadhara Scheme. The total amount of credit received by the self-help groups in last two and half years amounts to 1,232 crore.


New ray of hope to the destitute, old, widow and differently-able people

• Allowance under the National Social Assistance Scheme is now much more easily available

• 10.68 lakh rural families are getting old-age pensions

• 7.39 lakh  rural women are getting widow pension

• 38 thousand differently able people are also getting an allowance

• The sum of allowance for the widows and differently able people has been increased to rupees 600 per month

• Age limit for old-age pension has been cut from 65 to 60

Irrigation: Realising the potential

Samprati Motghare
IIM graduate, Batch of 2014


Water, as a resource, is extremely important for West Bengal given the fact that net sown area comprises of about 61% of total geographical area of the state and despite the fact that close to 69% of agricultural land is covered through irrigation; there is a high dependence on monsoon. West Bengal falls in the flood prone zone and hence, it becomes imperative to manage the flow of water through the state in such a manner that it ensures the safety of the population of the state.


New strides in farm irrigation

More farms being irrigated: After a negligence of several decades, the western districts have now received irrigation facilities through canals to about 1,34,000 acres of land. Several projects across the state have been initiated to bring about 58,000 acres of land under irrigation in this financial year and close to 1,24,000 acres in the next financial year.

Water for Rabi season: This year, a total of about 8,95,000 acres of land is being irrigated through various small and medium sized irrigation projects throughout the state, making it highest quantum of irrigated land during Rabi season in the last 7 years. For the first time ever, almost 1,10,000 acres is being irrigated through Teesta Barrage Project in North Bengal.

Bringing water to drought-prone regions: To promote rain harvesting and make water available for irrigation in the drought-prone Purulia district, 14 check dams are being built even in the remote areas. 23 more such check-dams have been planned for next financial year.


Restoration of river banks and dams, to protect people from floods

New milestones: Last 30 months have seen an unprecedented work to prevent erosion, strengthen dams and reconstruction of damaged dams like the one in Sundarbans which got damaged due to Aila. The total area of completed work amounts to 518 km with work in progress in additional 100 km.

Advanced technology: Geo-synthetic filter and bag, and concrete blocks are being used to arrest erosion from river banks. Historic town of Tamluk has now been preserved by erosion and beautification measures along Rupnarayan river and Digha-Sankarpur coasts.

Encouraging results: Despite receiving heavy rainfall last year, the flood prone lower catchment areas of Keleghai and Kapaleshwari rivers witnessed quick recession of water.
Building roads and bridges: Connecting people

New bridges: In just 30 months, 30 concrete bridges have been completed and opened for people across the state. For the first time in the state, around 95 bridges are being constructed on various rivers and canals in remote rural locations. With a special focus on South Bengal, 43 new bridges have been approved for construction and work has already begun.

New roads and repair of bridges: In just three and a half months, 75 km of bituminous road has been constructed along the banks of Mahananda and Fulhar rivers in Malda. Also, new projects are going to be taken up from next financial year for replacing dilapidated bridges with concrete bridges.


Utilizing information technology for better efficiency

e-Governance initiatives: e-Tendering system has been commissioned and it is now mandatory for all existing major work or new projects involving a sum of Rs 5 lakh to follow this system only. Initiatives to implement such e-governance initiatives in district offices have also been taken in a phase wise manner. These initiatives will put a check on leakages of revenue.

Helpline for floods:  For exchanging flood related information and communicate it to people in a more effective manner, a 24x7 helpline has been established having offices in Bidhannagar for South Bengal and Jalpaiguri for North Bengal.

Irrigation was overlooked for a long time in the past, but now many steps have been taken to optimize the use of this resource and also to ensure safety of people in case of any calamity due to floods. To reclaim rivers which were lost due to erosion, ducts measuring 330 km have been installed in the areas of South Bengal, pointing to the fact that there is ample scope of work that can be done in this field.