Page 4 - West Bengal

Partha Chatterjee steps down as president of top management institute

Chatterjee finally resigned from that chair this week. His resignation was accepted in a meeting of the current board of governors on Friday

Bengal govt to get Rs 2,400 cr from Centre under Samagra Shiksha Mission

Sources from the state education department said after every Union budget the Centre discusses with the state governments on the allocations under different centrally-sponsored schemes

Union Minister Nisith Pramanik's car attacked in West Bengal's Dinhata

Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik on Saturday alleged that supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress attacked his car at Dinhata in West Bengal's Coochbehar district. The TMC supporters allegedly pelted stones at the car carrying the minister. The front windshield of the car also cracked. Black flags were also shown to the minister. Pramanik said, "the police are acting as mere spectators and shielding the perpetrators of violence. People of the state are witnessing what is being done by TMC supporters in the state". Pramanik alleged that TMC was sheltering miscreants. BJP West Bengal spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said "if a central minister's car is attacked in this manner, then think about the security of the common people in the state". Bhattacharya said the Governor should initiate steps for the imposition of Article 355 in the state. Trinamool Congress leader Jaiprakash Majumdar, while reacting to this, said BJP leaders like Dilip Ghosh and Suvendu Adhik

7 people from West Bengal killed in road mishap in Odisha's Jajpur

At least seven people from West-Bengal were killed when the mini-truck in which they were travelling hit a stationary truck in Odisha's Jajpur district on Saturday, police said. Vinit Agrawal Superintendent of Police Jajpur told PTI that six persons died on the spot, while one succumbed enroute to SCB Medical College and hospital. "We have intimated the family members of the deceased, and they are on the way to Jajpur.," the SP said, adding that the exact cause behind the mishap is being verified. All the deceased persons were from West Bengal. The fire services personnel reached the spot and recovered the bodies, said Jajpur Collector Chakravarty Singh Rathore to PTI. A mini truck from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar to collect poultry items crashed into the stationary truck at Neulpur area on the NH-16 due to fog in the early hours of Saturday, said Dharmashala Police station Inspector-In-Charge Rakesh Tripathi. The bodies were sent to the Barchana Community Health Centre in Jajpur distr

Bengal govt issues notification announcing 6% DA to employees from March 1

The West Bengal government on Friday issued a notification for the grant of dearness allowance (DA) to the employees, pensioners, and family pensioners at the rate of six per cent of the basic pay with effect from March 1, following the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. The six per cent in DA is the total of the three per cent increase announced in December 2020 (meant for January 1, 2021 implementation) and a similar raise declared recently. The notification said that "the calculation of DA shall be made taking into account the revised basic pay and non-practising allowance if any, but it shall not include any other type of pay." "The DA will also be admissible to teaching and non-teaching staff of government-aided institutes as well as to staff of the local bodies. It will be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authority to calculate the quantum of dearness relief on revised pension and family pension payable to each individual case," the notification stated. A

Centre making contradictory statements over Bengal's GST dues: Minister

West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Thursday claimed that the Centre was making contradictory statements on the state's GST compensation dues by deciding to release the balance for June 2022, and at the same time asserting that audited figures were not submitted. Bhattacharya pointed out that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, after the 49th meeting of the GST Council last week, had said in a release that West Bengal will receive Rs 823 crore for June 2022 as GST compensation. "This is contradictory On one hand, it is said that we have not given the accountant general (AG) certificate and no calculation (of the dues) was done, and on the other hand, she (Sitharaman) says everything has been paid till May 2022 and this (amount of Rs 823 crore) is only for June 2022... My respectful submission is this makes no sense," the minister noted. Bhattacharya was speaking at an interactive session here, titled 'Bengal's Fiscal Health in Post Pandemic: Road Ahead', ..

MGNREGA scheme: Nearly 1.5 million fake job cards in WB cancelled in 1 year

Around 15 lakh fake job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in West Bengal have been cancelled during the last one year

Mamata launches app for non-resident Bengalis to communicate in emergency

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said while emphasising on the use of Bengali language, the state government gives respect and importance to other languages

Commonly used words should enter lexicon for growth of language: Mamata

Emphasising the state's culture of promoting unity amidst diversity, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that for the evolution and growth of a language it is necessary to include words used by the masses to enter its lexicon. Addressing a programme at Deshapriya Park in south Kolkata on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, the chief minister called for opening up rather than slamming the doors for any language to promote its growth. "We cannot keep our minds shut, we have to embrace other words and phrases which are used and understood by many Bengalis. Ma' is a universally understood word, but many people address their mother as Amma'. Those who have migrated from Bangladesh use certain phrases which were not used by people in this state. Language is like a flowing river. It is my humble submission to linguists and experts what is the harm in incorporating words to enrich our lexicon without tinkering with the basic spirit of the language? the

Saurashtra beat Bengal by nine wickets in Ranji final, clinch second title

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat returned a match haul of nine wickets, including 6/85 in the second innings, as Saurashtra thrashed Bengal by nine wickets in the summit clash to clinch their second Ranji Trophy title here on Sunday. Having given away a big first innings lead of 230 runs, Bengal, who were overnight 169/4 in their second essay, folded for 241, handing the visitors a mere 12 runs target to win the final. Saurashtra lost their opening batter Jay Gohil (0) off the bowling of Akash Deep but eventually went past the target, reaching 14 for 1 in 2.4 overs, to wrap up the match with one day and two full sessions to spare. Saurashtra's earlier triumph was in 2019-20 season when they defeated Bengal on the basis of first innings lead. In the last 10 seasons, they have made the final on five occasions, underlining their consistency. A Ranji Trophy title eluded Bengal yet again. They last won it in 1998-90 when they defeated a star-studded Delhi at the same Eden Gardens. Their fi

Mamata govt has turned 'Shiksha' into 'Ashiksha': Dharmendra Pradhan

Talking to reporters here in Kolkata, Pradhan said, "In Mamata Banerjee government, 'Shiksha' (education) has been turned into 'Ashiksha' (lack of education)

3rd arrested linkman in teachers' scam had connection with Chatterjee: CBI

Chandan Mondal has acknowledged his direct connection with the former state education minister in face of the night-long interrogation by the central agency officials since his arrest

CBI arrests 6 people in West Bengal SSC recruitment scam case: Officer

The CBI arrested six people on Friday in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitments made by the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC), a senior officer said. Those arrested were allegedly working as agents, collecting money from candidates, and facilitating their employment in various schools across the state, he said. "We have got specific evidence against them," the CBI officer said. These people were being questioned by the CBI for a long, he said. Several people have been arrested by the agency in connection with the irregularities, including former education minister Partha Chatterjee.

West Bengal's debt per capita stands at an estimate of more than Rs 60,000

With a population of around nine crore and cumulative debt of Rs 5.86 lakh crore, debt per capita in West Bengal stands at a conservative estimate of more than Rs 60,000. When the ruling Trinamool Congress assumed office in 2011, the total debt of the state stood at Rs 1.97 lakh crore. In the budget for 2023-24 presented in the state assembly on Tuesday, the West Bengal government has proposed to raise money from the market to the tune of Rs 79,000 crore, compared to the 2022-23 revised figure of Rs 75,000 crore. Noted economist Ajitava Ray Chaudhuri said, "The present generation has contracted such a debt stock which has to be repaid by the future generation". "If a such high debt is backed by equivalent assets created, the burden on future generation will be lower," Ray Chaudhuri said. The state's tax revenue for the year 2023-24 is also projected to be Rs 89,000 crore, in contrast to Rs 79,500 crore in the revised figure for 2022-23.

West Bengal Budget: A rural thrust with focus on social schemes

Among the major departments, the allocation for panchayats and rural development is one of the highest at Rs 26,603.51 crore

Bengal FM presents Rs 3.3 crore, projects 8.4% growth in state GDP

Her budget proposal has some good news regarding development of the rural road network in the state

Former West Bengal DGP Virendra appointed as state information commissioner

Former West Bengal DGP Virendra was on Wednesday appointed as the State Information Commissioner(SIC), state Parliamentary Affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said. The meeting to select the new SIC was held at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's chamber at the state assembly. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP skipped the meeting citing violation of the "advertising guidelines for inviting applications". Banerjee chaired the meeting. "There were 15 applications for the post of which 10 were found valid. The CM proposed Virendra's name and we supported it. Virendra has been appointed as the new state information commissioner," Chattopadhyay said after the meeting. Later speaking to reporters on the appointment of Virendra as the new State Information Commissioner, Adhikari said, "The meeting is illegal, it has met twice before. The Governor did not sign. I hope the Governor will not sign the appointment of Information Commissioner this time as well. All India level

Constitutional crisis looms as WB govt yet to relieve principal Secy to Guv

Constitutional crisis seems to be looming in West Bengal as the state government is yet to issue notification to replace Nandini Chakroborty, the Principal Secretary to Governor C.V. Ananda Bose.

Committed to Tajpur Port, waiting for formalities to finish: Adani official

Adani Ports & SEZ Ltd (APSEZ) remains committed to Rs 15,000 crore deep-sea port project in Tajpur, West Bengal and the company is waiting for completion of statutory formalities, such as the draft concession agreement from the state, a top official of Adani Group said. Once the formalities are complete, APSEZ will work towards developing the port as per its plans and timelines, the official added. "We remain committed to Tajpur deep-sea port and awaiting the statutory requirements from the state, associated with the project," the official said when contacted but declined to be identified. The comments come against the backdrop of a crisis in Adani Group companies following a report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research published last month. Adani Group stocks have taken a beating on the bourses after Hindenburg made a litany of allegations in its report, including fraudulent transactions and share price manipulation at the Gautam Adani-led group. The report raised concerns about

High-end sound meters to be installed in different parts of Bengal

In order to detect location-specific levels of sound pollution, West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has now decided to set up high-end sound meters in different corners of the state