Mamata urges tribal youths to spread awareness on govt projects
Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged tribal youths to make their seniors aware of various projects that have been taken up by the state government in the past seven years.
A high level interactive meeting chaired by the Chief Minister was held at Nabanna on Friday afternoon. Expelled CPI-M MP Ritabrata Bandyopadhyay has been made chairman of a core committee, that has been formed to oversee the community development projects taken up by the police.
After the meeting, Banerjee tweeted: "Today I was present in an interactive programme with my brothers and sisters of tribal communities at Nabanna Sabhaghar. Under our community development initiative, it is indeed a pleasure to hear local development issues from these young men and women who have come from all over the state, including the far-flung areas. Our government is committed to ensure all-round development of all communities. Significant work has already been done in this regard and we are taking it forward in the days ahead with greater thrust."
Cabinet ministers including Firhad Hakim, Suvendu Adhikari, Aroop Biswas and Soumen Mahapatra were present in the meeting.
Chief Secretary Malay De, Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya, S K Thade, Principal Secretary Backward Classes Welfare and Tribal Development department and Commissioner Midnapore Division, Director General of Police Virendra and State Security Advisor Surajit Kar Purkayastha, along with senior police officers from the districts, attended the meeting.
A booklet published in Kuruk, Santhali, Hindi and Bengali was handed over to the tribals who attended the meeting. Five tribal representatives from each police station area were present at the meeting, including tribal leaders from Bankura, Purulia and Jhargram.
It has been learnt that Banerjee has urged the youths to go back to their respective areas and make their seniors aware of the projects taken up by the state government.
Details of the projects that have been taken up by the state government in the past seven years, along with the addresses, offices and the concerned official whom the beneficiaries should approach in case of any assistance, have been given in the booklet.
The important issue that came up for discussion was handing over the documents to some beneficiaries, which they have not received yet. Banerjee assured them that the Land and Land Reforms department will take up the matter immediately.
It also came up during the discussion that some tribals had not been allowed to participate in a community puja recently. Banerjee urged the youths that in case of any similar incident in future, they should inform the local police and inform her. The police will form a WhatsApp group, to address such local problems.
Banerjee has taken several measures to develop the standard of living of the tribals. Kendu leaf gatherers are getting pension and through Sabuj Sathi and Kanyashree, the student community is being immensely benefitted. Because of her repeated visits to the disturbed areas in Jhargram and Purulia, peace has been restored.
However, despite that in seven blocks in Purulia and Jhargram, Trinamool Congress did not do well in the recently concluded three-tier Panchayat election.
Trinamool leaders including Abhishek Banerjee had visited the areas. But the Chief Minister wanted to hear from the local people about their grievances and had arranged Friday's meeting.
