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.
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.
