CM pays respect to martyrs of 1959 food movement

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday offered her respect to those who got killed in the food movement in 1959.

Banerjee tweeted: "I offer my pranam to the martyrs of the food movement of 1959. The state government has given food security to 90% people (8.59 crore) in Bengal."

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister has provided financial assistance to the family members of Nurul Islam, who was killed in police firing during the food movement agitation in 1966.

After coming to power in 2011, Banerjee introduced the Khadya Sathi scheme, through which rice is given at Rs 2 a kilogram. She has instructed all the district magistrates in administrative review meetings to ensure that no beneficiary is harassed.

The Khadya Sathi project has helped the people immensely as they have been provided food security. Banerjee has also instructed the DMs to undertake special drives for rectifying the errors that have been detected in ration cards.