State will provide kits to trainees under NULM: Hakim
Kolkata: Mayor Firhad Hakim said on Wednesday that kits to the trainees under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) will be provided by the state government and asked the concerned persons to ensure that best training is provided to the beneficiaries.
Hakim took stock of the various projects that have been taken up under NULM. The projects have been badly hit as the Centre is no longer sending the kits required for various schemes. Apart from the Mayor, Swapan Samaddar, Member, Mayor-in-Council (Bustee Development), Khalil Ahmed, Municipal Commissioner, senior officials of State Urban Development Agency (SUDA) and chairmen of borough committees attended the meeting. Hakim said the schemes taken up under the mission are important and their implementation will benefit hundreds of people.
When the Trinamool Congress controlled civic board was set up in 2010, only 2,000 people were getting benefits under NULM. Trinamool Congress decided to provide training to 20,000 people. Accordingly, 18,000 people received training under various schemes.
After the BJP government came to power in 2014, the supply of kits was reduced without any prior announcement, affecting the schemes badly. The schemes are meant for people coming from economically challenged backgrounds.
One of the important schemes provided to the youths is providing training for driving. But there is often inordinate delay in issuing driving licence and as a result, the youths who have received training cannot utilise their skills.
Hakim said he would take up the matter with the state Public Vehicles department, to ensure that the delay in issuing driving licences is reduced.
The Mayor said that he would hold weekly meetings in the boroughs to expedite administrative work. He will talk to the councillors directly and resolve the issues that come up. There are 16 boroughs in KMC.
It may be mentioned that Atin Ghosh, the Deputy Mayor who is also in charge of KMC's Health department, holds coordination meetings in every borough to conduct anti-larvae drives throughout the year.
