Three months after Kurushetra: Scorecard of Promises & Achievements

Updated 23.08.11

1. Land back to farmers in Singur               

#Legislation passed on June15. Land mapping and applications from unwilling farmers completed partially. In a few cases, land allotment has been initiated. About 3000 applications for return of land received from farmers.

# Effective further progress stalled by Supreme Court Directive in response to writ petition filed by the Tatas. Tatas' earlier case against the State Government for takeover of the land leased to them by the State Government under the new Legislative Act on June 13 is being heard by the Calcutta High Court. Supreme Court has advised the High Court to give a decision within a month or so when it granted stay of return of and to farmers, etc.

# The judge withdrew from the case suggesting that his personal friendship with some of the lawyers may impair the credibility of his neutrality. A new judge has been appointed and hearing has begun afresh in July.

# The disputes with the Tatas may ultimately go to the Supreme Court.

2. Release of Political Prisoners                  

#Screening Committee starts examining cases; some 48 cases recommended for release has been accepted by Govt. in July. Actual release of about 83 already identified prisoners may begin soon. Court formalities initiated for release of 52 political prisoners, mostly from North Bengal. Expected release of 52 political prisoners by 15th August materializedr.

 3. Neutrality and Independence of Police from Ruling Party Control  

# Implemented formally: no bias reported in first 30 days.

#But press reports in July that left parties complain of police discriminating against them and not taking action against Trinamool offenders. No form rebuttal by Government or Police till July.

# In August, the opposition leader submitted formal letter to the Chief Minister on atrocities committed by Trinamool cadres on CPM and other left front supporters after Trinamool Alliance partner, Congress, also gave a letter to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister immediately ordered the Police Department for thorough enquiry and take appropriate actions without allowing political leaders of any party to influence them in any manner.

# CPM is unsatisfied: says murders may be few but many of their supporters have sustained injuries and not allowed to live in their localities by Trinamool goons.

 # Reports of Trinamool activists and local leaders interfering in family / tenant-land-lord disputes is on the rise without any confirmed reports on police taking steps or Trianamool Party taking steps against such hooliganism.

4. Improving Police Infrastructure               

#On-going: organization to immobilize coal mafia set up. So far results appear positive.

5. Recovery of Illegal Arms from Political Party Cadres                        

#On-going: good progress - Maoist claim main CPM stocks of illegal arms in Midnapore not yet raided.

#No further big hauls reported since mid-July.

# Quite a few cases of recovery of human skeletons buried at several places reported in June, July and August. Apparently, these are the traces of political killings during 2000-2008. One case has been registered against a former CPM minister, who has been given anticipatory bail by court. No progress reported on the investigations.

# Twenty all-women police stations to be set up in the State to deal with complaints of women citizens and women offenders of law.

6. Restraining Political Party Violence & Inter-party armed clashes/ murders       

#Partly unsuccessful as yet: incidence reportedly on decline.

#Left parties complain of their activists unable to return to their own localities in certain areas in Midnapore and North 24 Parganas. Many CPM offices deserted or forcibly occupied by Trinamool party.

# No clear response from Govt. as yet on the actual status, except that the number of political killings, though deplorable are small and that Trinamool Congress reiterating that they have taken effective steps to ensure that there is no large-scale revenge.

#Incidence of local crowd instigated by with Trinamool to raid CPM leaders/ supporters residences has reportedly gone down in recent weeks.

7. Improving Health Services

# Measures like increase in no. of hospital beds, improve space and equipment infrastructure to improve service in Govt. Hospitals being announced continuously since June. No aggregate report on actual progress available. 

# No. of beds added in many hospitals and plans for addition announced for other hospitals in the State.

 # Hospital administrators taken to task; streamlining effective utilization starts,

# Hospital admission refusal stopped,

# Free medicines for mothers' in maternity wards announced,

# shirking by doctors and medical staff put under surveillance, Class IV corruption under attack: service

# Network of diagnostic centers to be set up in districts and sub-divisions

# Blood banks in 14 sub-division hospitals to be set up: about 350 positions sanctioned for this purpose.

# CM advises family of patients not to disrupt hospital functioning while protesting against negligence of hospital staff.

# Health Department instructed to release Health Services Data Bank with information on location, specialties, availability of doctors, beds and facilities available in different State hospitals and diagnostic centers (why can't each hospital have websites with complete information on all aspects of hospitals including timings, facilities, attending doctors, nurses in various wards, location, phone number and also on-line inquiry and complaint lodging facility?)

# Three new medical colleges - one each at Malda, Kamarhati and Murshidabad.

# AIIMS like medical centre in Kalyani.

8. Revival of Bengal's Culture and Cultural Heritage             

# Cleansing Cultural Setups from Political Party Domination: Dolotranta removed by forming new broad-based Committees for various centers like Rabindra Sadan, Nandan, etc.

# For the first time in West Bengal, the State decides to honor and recognize outstanding Bengali contributors in various fields every year. In July, nine renowned persons of great achievements aged between 65 and 92, singer Sandhya Mukhopadhaya, Dwijen andopadhyay, and Manna Dey, film actress Supriya Chowdury and film actor Haradhan Bandopadhyaya, musician Ostad Amjad Ali Khan, Dancer Amala Shankar, footballer Sailen Manna and author Mahasweta Devi were awarded Banga Bibhshan by the State.

# Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul emphasised in State cultural initiatives. Three-day (August7-9) Rabindranath Cultural program implemented by the State Government including the police. Rabindranath's Death Anniversary declared public holiday under NI Act. Rabindra Charcha Centre in Rajarhat announced. A new Statdium to be inaugursted in August has been named Geetanjali after the book of poetry that brought Nobel to Rabindranath.

# Film City planned in Uttarpara along the Ganges on land owned by Kolkata Corporation

9. Land Bank & Acquisition Policy     

# Committee report on land policy received; no fresh acquisition by Govt. for industry: industry to directly purchase 100% of land required; govt. will not fix prices.

# Committe's recommendations being examined by seven member Group of Ministers.  Final policy yet to be approved and released.

10. Removal of bottlenecks to Metro Rail Projects

# Dispute with the tram company solved; work resumed on

Diamond Harbor Road

in June 2011.

# Problem of pollution around a swimming pool is being sorted out by Sudip Bandopadhyay, MP to enable East-West Metro project to progress on a section.

11. Low cost food supply to poor in Jungle Mahal                                                         

# Scheme announced,

# Food department activity under scanner: shirkers and corrupt practices under attack; delivery mechanism being strengthened.

#Bogus Ration Card elimination process starts, new secured ration cards to be introduced.

# Police stations in jungle areas to be involved in food distribution under the Scheme.

12. Delayed Flyovers in Kolkata      

# Efforts initiated to expedite flyover construction completion in different parts of the city.

13. Higher Education Facility in Districts   

# 16 new degree colleges already announced:

# 300 new Degree colleges and 10 universities in five years planned.

14. Indian Institute of Technology in Darjeeling

# Announced in June: no further progress.

15. Work Infrastructure and Work Culture Improvement

# Renovation, Relocation, Up-gradation process initiated; Meetings with Employees held: shirkers under attack. Impact would be known over time.  

# CM’s office and corridors/ waiting place for visitors cleaned up to remove depressing environment in Writers’ Building. Proper Canteen being set up and clumsy tea stalls in various corners removed.      

# Orders for removal of hoardings from the business district being implemented to give a cleaner look.                        

16. Solving Crisis in State Finances                                                      

# Study of the financial crisis problem initiated in May,

#  Discussion with Central Govt. started, Planning Commission approves Annual Plan Outlay of over Rs.20,000 crore - a 25% increase over the past year (everyone knows, that with 9 months remaining to spend, West Bengal would be hardly in a position to use the increased plan allocation. Besides, how will this be funded: how much by Central Govt. Grant-in-Aid and how much by borrowings (there being little chance of the State generating Revenue Account Surplus this year?)

#Vote on Account passed in June. 

# Stress on clearing projects eligible for 100% central assistance. Stress on greater and effective utilization of Central Govt. Fund allocation under various Schemes.

# New taxes likely: one on share transactions as in Maharashtra. 

# Tax collection mechanism may be strengthened to increase tax revenues by stopping leakages, evasion and corruption. Additional manpower is being deployed to improve tax collections. E-governance with regard to VAT and Sales TX to be operational from August: On line E-registration for VAT, E-payment for VAT and Sales Tax, E-refund of incentives under composition up to 90% of refund claimed.

# 150 facilitation centers for assistance in E-registration, e-filing or returns, e-payment and e-refund for tax payers without own computer and internet facility

# Mutation may be made compulsory within a short period after registration of property transfers to augment municipal revenues.

# Plan to move to On-line e-filing and e-processing of property transfer registration and mutation announced in August.

#Full budget could reflect comprehensive solution to the financial crisis. Union Finance Ministry insists on Full Budget be passed by the State Government for the year 2011-12 before it can hike additional funds for West Bengal. State Governments wants economic package for West Bengal be announced by the Government of India in order to cope with the State Finances Disaster created by the previous left front government that ruled continuously for 34 years, before the State can prepare a meaningful Budget.

# Union Finance Minister announced some small increase in funds allocated to certain projects in West Bengal while presenting his review of the Central Budget in the Parliament.

# Hectic parleys between the Finance Minister of the Governments of India and West Bengal took place in July.  Final outcome: central Grant-in-Aid of about Rs 9500 crore for 2011-12 for development projects in districts, Jungle Mahal, left-wing terrorist infiltrated areas and green initiatives and permission for Rs.2400 crore extra borrowings beyond the Fiscal Responsibility & Budget Management Act limit of about Rs 17,000 crore.

#There was a possibility of Full Budget in July with some measures to widen the tax base and increase rates of taxes on luxury items.

# In all probability, the State Government's debt burden may increase for the next two years before it can be brought down.

# On August 11, Finance Minister presented a Summary of Annual Financial Statement indicating certain estimates of income and expenditure for the financial year 2011-12 in the State Assembly.  A 31% increase in total revenue receipts is projected (own tax revenues will increase from Rs. 21300 crore previous year to Rs 27690 crore this year while non-tax revenues will increase from Rs. 2907 crore to Rs. 3194 crore. How such a sharp increase is possible is to be seen when the Finance Bill is presented to the State Assembly probably on August 29. Share of central taxes are projected to increase from Rs.16954 cror5 crore to Rs. 19167 crore while Grants-in aid from the Centre will rise from Rs. 9954 crore to Rs. 15797 crore.

 #Estimates of expenditure show substantial increase in Salaries, development and [planning, school education, food and supplies, health, municipal affairs, public health engineering, Sunderbans, pashimancal, transport   , women & children welfare. Department wise details of projected expenditure have not been given: maybe the Finance Bill may contain such details.

# The FM plans to reduce the allocation of expenditure on salary, pensions and interest on loans from 91% to around 74% and the revenue deficit from around Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 8500 crore.

17. Improved City Traffic Policing            

# Area under Kolkata Police extended in June: Reorganization in progress - will take some time to complete.

# Mamata, Chief Minister, proposes playing Rabindra Sangeet tune at Traffic lightts for vehcle drivers awaiting Red light to go.  (Instead of allowing the Traffic Police Department to randomize and automate selection of the tunes for various traffic junctions, some intellectuals have started making their own selection of tunes for specific junctions, probably to enthuse the Chief Minister to annouce the formation of an Independent Musicians for the purpose!  True Bengali zeal to contribute to messing up things)

18. Solution to Hill Region Problem          

 #Agreement reached between Mamata Government and Gorkha leaders in June.

# Tri-partite agreement among Central Government, State Government and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha to be signed in Siliguri on 18 July 2011.

# It will take between 6 to 10 months to give effect to the Agreement to make the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) with elected members from 45 constituencies and 5 State Government Nominees/ Meanwhile the State Legislators has to repeal the current Darjeeling Hill  Council Act, pass appropriate ct of the new Administration, complete delimitation to create the 45 constituencies, complete the exercise of Gorkha dominance in some hundred rural areas in Terrai region to determine which can or cannot be included in the jurisdiction of the new Administration, get the Elections conducted, etc. Till the current DGHC will continue to implement the development initiatives of the State in the current GTA area of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. GTA will have 59 departments unlike DGHC's 19 departments and will not have departments like Police etc. # The State Government will open a North Bengal Administration Headquarter office in Siliguri.

# The State Government has announced a number of development projects for North Bengal: these include up gradation and opening of new secondary, higher secondary schools and colleges in Hill districts/ Sub-divisions, new industrial training institutes, new bridges, etc.

#The grant to the North Bengal Development Board has been raised form Rs 25 crore to Rs 200 crore.

#The Coochbehar Airport has been revived and the flight operation commenced on July 18. Daily flights between Coochbehar and Kolkata may begin soon.

# The transport linkage for air passangers from Siliguri Railway Station to Bagdogra Airport has been strengthened with special Railbus services.

# Protests against the proposed creation of GTA from Adivasis in Terrai and proponents of separate Coochbehar State. Delegation of Adivasis assured by the CM that they would be consulted if and before any proposal to include any mouza in Terrai area into GTA area.

19. Primary Education and CPM created PTTI problem                                          

 # 40,000 new primary teachers recruitment announced; Percentage quota for  PTTI-problem sufferers.                

20. Shortage of State Doctors                  

# Medical Recruitment Board set up for recruitment in June.

# No further report on progress.

21. Presidency College University Reforms           

# Independent Expert Mentoring Committee for Reforms set up with Amartya Sen and Sugato Basu. Committee of seven members met first time in July and held discussions with academic staff at the University.

# Govt. wants no political or State interference in the running and management of the University.

# Presidency University Council seems annoyed with Government setting up Mentoring Committee (probably the council is dominated by Left-front nominated/ sponsored intellectuals). Council goes ahead with PhD program in many subjects despite Mentoring Committee's advice not to do so till research infrastructure and competent full-time faculty are in place. Education Minister promises to sort out the embarrassing controversy in a month.

22. Undergraduate College & School Education Reforms         

# Two Committees one each for Higher Education and School Education set up in June.

#Sunanda Sanyal, Chairman for both the Committees, gives up Chairmanship of Higher Education Reforms Committee in July but continues to be member.

# Reports of both Committees may be available in August.

23. Revival of Legislative Council              

# Proposal moved in the Legislature in June.

# But to allow the small minority to express their opinion, MLAs committee formed to study and come back to the Legislative Assembly in six weeks, before new Law is passed by majority.

# In view of differences of opinion with the opposition parties, the Government may defer action of this proposal for the time being.

24. Investigation on Past Killing allegedly by Police/ Ruling Party Cadres                                                      

# Commissions set up on Sai Bari killings and another four cases including Baranagar killing case.

# Other cases under scrutiny.

25. Unrecognized Madrassa schools       

 # Recognized 10,000 madrassas so they can get central govt. aid even if the State cannot extend financial assistance.

26. Fire Service Dept. Improvement          

# Kolkata Fire Service under scanner for non-utilization of expensive equipment and attempt to sell them off.

# No further information since July.

27. Industrial Promotion                            

# Meeting held with industrialists on 19 June to list out all their problems.

# Core Industry-Government Committee of 25 set up to meet weekly to sort out problems or recommend policies measures.

# WBIDC pulled up for not providing industrial promotion and single window service and not extending the service of all leg work for govt. approvals - will restart this now.  Till August no progress reported on WBIDC's effort on this, though a new MD has joined.

# Land utilization Map being drawn up to identify land for industrial projects. Land earlier acquired but not being utilized for industry will be announced.

# Land remaining idle in closed and abandoned factories including those closed factories under Central govt. would be offered to new industrial investors. Use of such lands for building residential and official apartments may be completely stopped.

#In August, WBIDC issues requests to all industry associations to furnish list of their members firms holding more land than the specified ceiling.

# All Government Departments told to submit lists of land under their possession remaining unutilized in specific form. In view of delays in submission special workshop-meeting called to sort out difficulties and expedite generating the information (speaks volumes about the low quality of governance in these departments not having ready inventory on land property under their possession and control)

# Govt. believes that industry can purchase land directly from landowners as has happened in the past in some cases without govt. help in procurement or setting prices.

# Industries Minister has started visiting State sponsored Industrial Estates to ascertain the actual utilization of the land for industrial factories ( reportedly the Industrial Estate near Sevak Road in Siliguri has few factories working while many factory spaces are being used for warehousing and even available land encroached for use as bus terminal!)

# Further acquisition of land from farmers in Rajarhat area by HIDCO stopped for ever.

# HIDCO chairmanship offered to honest bureaucrat instead of appointing politicians as in the past to stop special allotments to favourites.

# Industries & Commerce Minister, Partha Chatterjee announced that under the Single Window Approach for scrutiny of applications for various State Government approvals and permission for new industrial units, the number of forms to be filed has been reduced from 92 to 15 and e-filing of these forms has been introduced.

# Agreements signed with GAI, HPCL and GCGSC for city gas supply projects worth Rs.250 Crores.

# Initiatives taken for a jems/jewelley Park in Hwrah

# Expansion proposals of Infosys, Wipro, TCS and Cognizany being expedited.

28. Development & Peace in Jungle Mahal

# Several announcement is July 2011

# Maoist advised to surrender arms and get into peace talks. Joint Centre-State security forces will continue till peace is restored and arms combed off.

#Those surrendering arms and returning to normal life by deserting Maoist extremist groups promised aid in economic and social rehabilitation. Higher cash benefits on surrender of various types of arms announced in August (there was virtually no repose to the cash benefit package offered by the previous Govt. a year ago.)

# Water supply projects to be completed in two and a half years: Rs 200 Crore allocated.

# Free cycles for all girl students announced.

# Four Undergraduate Colleges in Jungle areas.

# Several Secondary Schools to be upgraded to Higher Secondary Schools.

# 1800 Teachers for teaching Santhal languages to be recruited and posted to 900 schools.

# 400 Farmer Friends to be deployed.

# More Anganwadi workers to be placed.

# 10,000 to be recruited locally as Police personnel and Home guards. Process has reported begun to post a few hundred fresh policemen in the Jungle Mahal.

# Subsidised food may be distributed through police stations to improve police-people relations in the Jungle Mahal

 29. Assistance for Uneducated Youth to get jobs

# Scheme announced in July 2011 for training and financial assistance to unemployed youth with study up to Class Eight announced. Joint Programme with the Security Services Firms in the State. (monthly salary of Rs5000-9,000 with gratuity/ pension benefits.

30. Information Technology Industry Development Initiative

# Two Committees, one each for software industry and hardware industry formed with Sam Pitroda as the Chairman for both and Naraynmurthy as the Adviser to suggest to West Bengal measures to develop IT industry throughout West Bengal to generate employment opportunities, especially in Small and medium scale IT firms.

# Govt. plans IT hubs in many districts including in Jungle Mahal

# Committee Reports are likely to be available in August/ September.

31. London-Thames Model for Kolkata to Farakka on Ganges Tourism Project.

#Foundation stone of the one-kilometer stretch first phase of the Kolkata Ganges-side project was laid on August 3.

32. Switzerland Model for North Bengal Tourism Project

# Chief Minister announced in August that that the detailed Feasibility Report on the Project is just about ready.

33. Sunderbans Tiger- Crocodile Safari Project

# Chief Minister announces in August that State government is planning such a project.

34. Renaming the State and District Administration Reorganization

# An all Party Committee with MLA representatives and Opposition leader Suryakant Mishra and Industries Minister Partho Chatterjee was constituted early in August to consider proposals for change in the name of the State as well as the proposals for creation of more districts by bifurcating heavily populated districts.. The Committee collected proposals and views of different parties and deliberated on them on August 19. # Based on these deliberations, the Government has announced:

(a)  The State's name will be retained in Bengali as Paschim Banga and the English name will be changed from West Bengal to Pashim Banga; and

(b) Four big districts will be split into two each: these include North 24-Parganas.

# In view of dissatisfaction among the intelligentsia with the inadequate justification of the political parties’ consensus decision with regard to (b), the proposal to change the name of the State may be deferred for the time being.

# In August, all land revenue offices and employees in different districts and sub-divisions have been brought back under the command/ control of the the District Magistrates/ Collectors and Sub-Divisional Officers (after more than two decades) to weed out inefficiency and corruption in land documentation and revenue collection

35. New Airports in the State

# Central Government has been put under pressure to improve airport facilities in the State.

# Five small airports have been planned for small aircrafts. These include Coochbehar which has just become operation, Behala where there is to be an airstrip and a flying club.

# Expert study rejects the proposed location of Malda Airport because of high-rise building already constructed in the vicinity.

36. Eradication of Corruption and Shirking (ghughur baasaa demolition)

# In various government administration sections and offices, groups of public servants at various levels have for a long-time developed as centers for shirking work and accepting bribes to harass citizens. Chief Minister has initiated all out efforts from introduction of computerization, e-filing, e-governance, surprise visits, other forms of surveillance/ monitoring and redeployment of manpower to weed out the dens of corrupt and shirker pigeons among government employees from eating away / damaging the flow of benefits meant for the citizens.

# Chief Minister has advised the industrialists not to pay for the benefit of her party any money to her party members and supporters. When her party is in need for funds, she will beg for funds from the people. If any industrialists wish to contribute to her party's funds, they may do so through transparent cheques transactions.

37. Employment Creation

# Govt. created additional posts o for 79,000 persons

# Over two lakh jobs likely to be created in the private sectr as result of the first three month’s initiative of the Govt. 9details not known?)