Food security, developing Msme clusters topmost on our agenda: Mamata

Making a scathing attack on the erstwhile Left Front government, Banerjee said that no development work had taken place in the past three decades. Instead, her government completed work in four and half years that had not even taken place in the past 40 years. Banerjee was addressing a programme in Red Road organised on Khadya Sathi Divas. She also gave away medals to police personnel.

The Chief Minister said providing food to all was the first priority. Around 82 per cent of the total population has been brought under the food rationing system. Around 7 crore people will get rice and wheat at a cost of Rs 2 per kg from Wednesday, while more than 50 lakh people will be getting food grains at a much subsidized rate. “Those have not filled up forms to get food grains at a subsidized rate shouldn’t worry. They can approach the block development officer,” she said. 

“Many had said that it was not possible to continue providing such a huge quantity of wheat and rice. But I would like to thank my farmer friends as 15 lakh metric tonne of food grains have already been stored. Food grains for the next 7 months have been stored. Now the target is 100 lakh metric tonne,” Banerjee said, adding that steps have also been taken for proper preservation of the food grains. Permanent centres have been developed in 275 blocks and there are 15000 temporary centres to buy wheat.

In connection with industrialisation in the state, Banerjee said there was assurance to develop 17 MSME clusters in her manifesto. “Those who say that no industrialisation is taking place in the state must know that 321 clusters have come up,” she said, adding one cannot deny the figures and facts. “We all know that captains of so many industries were present in the Bengal Business Global Summit and participants from 26 countries attended the summit too. But they (Left Front) are saying that no investment is taking place in the state,” she said. 

Banerjee stated that development work in Howrah is taking place in a fast pace. “Flyovers will come up and there will be collaboration between Howrah Municipal Corporation and Japan.” More over several truck terminuses will come up in the outskirts of the city. Mini trucks will be engaged to transport goods from the terminuses to different parts of the city.

Speaking on Accredited Social Health Activists, she said “Today bicycles have been given to 45000 ASHA workers. It will help them to reach their place of work without any inconvenience and they will also have medical insurance,” adding that steps on development of the workers of the unorganised sector.