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Bengal

CM announces interim pay hike of state govt employees

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has given a master stroke on the first day of the second term of her government by announcing a pay hike of 10 per cent of the state government employees.

Banerjee said: “The state government is happy to announce a grant for interim relief of 10 per cent on the band pay of the state government employees. It will be effective from July 1 and it will cost Rs 3,000 crore to the state’s exchequer.”  

While addressing the press conference at Nabanna after holding the first meeting with the ministers, Banerjee once again dedicated the win to ‘Ma Mati Manush’. She said that the lesson that she learnt in the past five years is that working for the mass is the only way to gain their faith, love, affection and blessings.  

Before stating the issues on which there were discussions in cabinet meeting, she said that a resolution has been passed. Amit Mitra read out the resolution which states that “During the last five years, Bengal has not only scaled new heights and outperformed the country as a whole in several parameters of social and economic growth, but has also been placed where people of all communities have flourished together with peace, prosperity and harmony…Resolved that it shall be our commitment and earnest endeavour in the second term to carry forwards the development agenda for Bengal with greater pace, greater focus and greater outreach, so that Bengal becomes number one in the world in terms of peace, prosperity and happiness.” 

Development works that had been carried out in the past five years despite the challenges that the state government had faced due to the “huge debt burden” was also mentioned in the resolution.  
Banerjee said that the problem of the huge debt is the biggest challenge of the state at present. Steps will be taken to approach the Centre again in this regard.   

While stating the steps that would be taken to expedite the development work in the state Banerjee said a separate directorate will be formed for tea gardens. The lack of a directorate was leading to miscommunication about the situation of the tea gardens with the Centre. The directorate will be linked with the North Bengal Development department for better functioning.   

 She said that in the next five years thrust will be given for creating more opportunities for the younger generation. The state government had organised the Bengal Global Business Summit in the past two consecutive years. 

It is yielding results and more steps will be taken for more investment in the state. She said in the same breath that equal importance will be given the agriculture sector. “Industry and agriculture are sisters,” she said adding that she is hopeful about Singur. She didn’t say much about the Singur land issue as the case in a subjudice one, but said that the people of Singur will get justice.  

The next meeting of the cabinet ministers along with senior officers of all departments will be held on June 3 where Banerjee will be taking stock of the ongoing development works and the financial status of each departments. 

Henceforth a roadmap will be prepared to expedite the development works. She said that she will continue holding the administrative meetings in districts like the past five years. The budget session of the Assembly will commence on June 17.  She said that she will also be visiting Narayangarh as per her promise. 
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