Complete text of All India Trinamool Congress' manifesto for the 2011 West Bengal state assembly elections:
ALL INDIA TRINAMOOL CONGRESS
WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION 2011
WEST BENGAL: A CHANGE FOR A BETTER AND BRIGHTER TOMORROW
GOOD GOVERNANCE
ALL INDIA TRINAMOOL CONGRESS
AN APPEAL
This is a humble submission to the elders, youngsters, sisters 'and brothers of Bengal, on behalf of All India Trinamool Congressfor a better and brighter tomorrow.
Over the last 35 years, the State has gone down in every direction. Now the time has arrived for change and time cannot wait. It is better late than never. We stand today at the cross roads of history.
The whole world is watching with great interest what the people of West Bengal will decide now. Are we going to move towards a golden age of Bengal? The alternative is to remain trapped under the oppressive, exploitative and authoritarian 'Party-Cadre' misrule of the Left Front and the CPI(M).
This change cannot be achieved without your support. We look forward to a people centric government and a people centric reforms agenda.
Our mission is to reconstruct Bengal with a positive attitude with creativity and empathy, always with a human face.
The following pages have two different dimensions - Part-A vividly captures the sad story of the decline of the State with irrefutable and shocking evidence. The steady decay of West Bengal under the Left Rule is pathetic - the end result of the deliberate and incompetent policies over the last three and a half decades.
Part-B brings forth a blueprint of the regeneration and rejuvenation of Bengal that we, All India Trinamool Congress, visualize.
We propose to rebuild the industrial might of Bengal with an eye towards massive employment generation. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will become the fulcrum of this regeneration while medium and large' industrial investments will join shoulders to shoulder with the small, to pull Bengal out of this terrible present impasse.
Agriculture, the life force of fertile Bengal, will be made to prosper again through manifold policy instruments engaging the farmers and never forgetting a friendly ecology.
Infrastructure, is the backbone of our plan of resurgence which has all but disappeared from the State today.
Underlying all of these is the fabric of a healthy Bengal and educated Bengal. A Bengal that is all inclusive of SC,ST,OBC, minorities, women, youth, students and anyone who is weak or disadvantaged. We have addressed these issues in the following pages.
Good and impartial governance is the bull work of any society. We would like to bring about an administrative reform, police reform and a reform of the supportive structure of government always with a human face. We will always be concerned about the wellbeing of whether it be an officer or a constable or a clerk.
I hereby, urge them to be people friendly, work friendly and transparent in their dealings with the citizens of the State. I reach out to them for their fullest support in this endeavour of change, development and growth with fairness and justice.
All India Trinamool Congresswill give equal importance to the revival of the great traditions of Bengal - literature, films, theatre, poetry, music, paintings and science and technology. These were the main components of the renaissance of West Bengal at one point of history.
Our guiding lights will be the thoughts and philosophy of Rabindra Nath and Nazrul Islam. We will draw on the powerful words and deeds of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna. The work of Jagdish Chandra in the world of science and nature will always inspire us.
Keeping these in view, our government will start a Tagore Centre for Universal Values and a Vivekananda Centre for International Understanding. Nazrul Islam, a New research Centre will also be set up.
We will return to our roots to go forward to build the new future - a better and brighter tomorrow for all. Soon, we wish to be able to say that 'what Bengal thinks today - India thinks tomorrow'.
All of these will be achieved with the courage and resilience , we draw from Kabi Guru's famous words - 'Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high....'
(Mamata Banerjee)
14.3.2011
CONTENTS
1. 15th State Assembly Elections and Our Role: Regeneration of a ruined West Bengal
- Irrefutable evidence of a systematic decline and steady decay of West Bengal under Left Rule
2. Dynamic Development for All Citizens: Towards a New Dawn
- Break the shackles of party centric vested interests and put an end to decades of exploitation
- Bring about an era of hope with fairness, transparency and a merit based society with a human face
- Keep in focus opportunities for the disadvantaged
3. West Bengal: Action Agenda [First 200 days]
4. West Bengal: Action Agenda [Next 1000 days]
Part A
Irrefutable evidence of a systematic decline and steady decay of West Bengal under Left Rule
The Chemistry of Red Ruin of West Bengal's Economy
1. Dramatic decline of industry
2. State government in a shameful debt trap: The ruin of public finances
3. Creaking infrastructure
4. Agriculture languishing
Ilrrefutable Statistics of Decline and Decay in Industry
Share of Manufacturing in state GDP registers a dramatic fall between 1976 and 2009
In 1975-76, share of manufacturing sector in state's economy was 19 percent. By 2008-09, this figure had fallen to a mere 7.4 percent.
While West Bengal's manufacturing was going down, Gujarat's manufacturing share went up from 19 percent in 1975-76 to 29.6 percent in 2007-08. Even Orissa's manufacturing share rose from 8 percent in 1975-76 to 13.6 percent in 2008-09.
State's share of number of factories shrinks
West Bengal's share in number of factories at all India level came down dramatically under the CPI (M) rule.
In 1976-77, West Bengal had a share of 7.6 percent in total number of factories in India. By 2008-09, this declined to a pathetic 4 percent.
Bengal workers lose their jobs: The 'proletariat' become victims of the Left Rule
It is shocking that workers of West Bengal lost their jobs under the CPI(M) government.
In 1976-77, West Bengal's share in employment in manufacturing sector in India was 13.3 percent. In 2008-09, this came down to a pathetic 5 percent.
Labour productivity in West Bengal nosedives : How workers lost their edge
Industrial workers in West Bengal also lost the productivity race during the CPI (M) rule.
West Bengal's share in Gross Value Added in manufacturing sector in India was 11.6 percent in 1976-77. This figure dropped to a painful 3.2 percent in 2008-09.
Today, labour productivity in West Bengal is amongst the lowest in the country
CPI (M) de-industrialized West Bengal
Consistent de-industrialization in the state is the unfortunate highlight of the Left Rule
The share of industry in state's economy was 27 percent in 1975-76. This figure declined to 1B.4 percent in 200B-09. All India share of industry during the same time grew from 22 percent to 25.B percent.
Collapse of the agriculture sector
Agricultural growth falls sharply: Cries of farmers fall on CPI (M)'s deaf ears
Agriculture sector growth plummeted from a high of 17.3 percent during 1966-76 to a pathetic 7.8 percent during 2001- 07.
Government with a begging bowl: State in debt trap
The irresponsible government
The total outstanding liability of West Bengal is Rs. 1,68,684 crore in 2009-10 !!!
Source - State Finances, A Study of State Budgets, 2009-10, Reserve Bank of India
West Bengal shamefully has one of the highest debt to GDP ratio in India
The central government passed a legislation in 2004-05 for all states of India to pass a Fiscal Res-ponsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM). West Bengal did not. pass this till 2010.
While other states adopted the FRBM Act, West Bengal government continued its irresponsible spending spree. The government funds were cornered by the CPI (M) and its cadres.
This inflicted a huge blow to the state as West Bengal lost massively because it could not take advantage of the Debt Consolidation and Relief Facility (DCRF) of the central government.
Due to non-enactment of Fiscal Responsibility Legislation West Bengal could not avail of total financial benefit of Rs. 494.24 crore during 2008-09 towards reduction in annual installment of GOI loans and waiver of interest
Only before elections, the state has now woken up to pass this legislation [Fiscal Responsibility Legislation] as an eye wash to the people. As a result, West Bengal's public finances continued to deteriorate
So critical is the state's fiscal health that the ratio of interest payments to the state government's income is 35 percent as against Twelfth Finance Commission target of 15 percent.
Look at some stark figures of mismanagement of YOUR MONEY
- Ratio of total outstanding liability to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in West Bengal is 42.9 percent in 2009-10. All states' average is 26.5 percent.
- Committed expenditure as percentage of state's own revenue is 116 percent for West Bengal which means state's own revenue falls short of meeting expenses on administrative services, pensions and interest payments.
- Per capita capital outlay in West Bengal - Rs. 339.5 - least among major states in India. Maharashtra has per capita capital outlay of Rs. 2023.8.
- West Bengal's development expenditure as percent of total expenditure was 49.5 percent in 2005-10 as compared to all states' average of 61.2 percent.
Crisis in infrastructure!
Infrastructure is the social capital and it determines growth. In course of CPI (M) rule, West Bengal's infrastructure has been ruined.
Stark evidence of this ruination comes from the following -
Additionally,
Port capacity has remained stagnant. In 2009-10, while Kolkata port handledtraffic to the tune of 13.05 million tonnes, JNPT handled 60.76 million tonnes and Kandla handled 79.5 million tonnes.
Kolkata airport is least developed among the metropolises. In 2008-09, total aircraft movements at Mumbai airport were 227,694, at Delhi airport were 217,391, and at Chennai were 115,911. Kolkata airport takes the last place with total aircraft movements of 81831 in 2008-09.
Water management is also in a complete mess. Due to the complete neglect of the state government in water management, most of the times West Bengal is either facing a drought or a flood like situation. Irrigation facilities are limited and participation of people in managing facilities is minimal.
Further, dropout rates increases as we move up the education ladder.
- Dropout rate between class 1 and class 5 - 36 percent
- Dropout rate between class 1 and class 8 - 64 percent
- Dropout rate between class 1 and class 10 - 73 percent
Today appointment of teachers is on the basis of party affiliation - 'CADRE RAJ' - with no regard for merit.
Crisis in healthcare
The bed per 1000 population ratio in West Bengal is 1.16 as against World Health Organisation (WHO) norm of 3
Of the total 2386 hospitals in the state only 385 are public hospitals
It is shocking that only 16 percent of the hospitals are run by the state - CRIMINAL NEGLECT of state's responsibility to the common people of West Bengal
Rural hospitals account for less than 25 percent of all public hospitals in West Bengal when 72 percent of the population resides in rural areas
Acute shortage of manpower, hospital beds and paramedics throughout the state
The state has only 9 medical colleges when it needs at least 17 medical colleges at 1 per 50 lakh population
Part B
Regeneration of West Bengal
Tasks before the new government
The task before the new government is to 'REBUILD WEST BENGAL'
To compete with the best and fulfill the aspirations of the people
The new government will...
1. REVIVE West Bengal's industrial glory with a three pronged strategy
- Strategy 1- Broad and deep focus on Micro. Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs} of West Bengal
- Strategy 2 - Re-start and re-model closed PSUsacross the state
- Strategy 3 - Attract large private investments in sectors such as engineering, steel, tea, jute, textiles and other areas of manufacturing, mining, power and food processing
2. CREATE employment on a massive scale with
- Focus on labour intensive sectors such as textiles, apparel, leather, jute, tea, handicrafts, entertainment (creative industries), tourism, gems & jewellery and agro based industries for a massive scale - up. This employment will give dignity and self worth to common people of West Bengal
3. DRIVE education and skill formation as engines of empowerment
4. REVAMP healthcare sector with prime focus on rural health
- Hub and spoke model to be developed to connect Sub Centres, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, District Hospitals, Sub Divisional Multi Specialty Hospital and Super Specialty Hospitals at Kolkata and all the districts of the State.
- Diagnostic centres to be multiplied for even spread throughout the state
- Use Information Technology tools across the state connecting bottom of the pyramid to the top in healthcare
5. LAUNCH and execute an ambitious infrastructure building rogram with focus on
- Rural roads
- State highways
- Ports (including deep sea port in Sundarbans)
- Power (All the villages)
- Airports
- Waterways
- Dredging at Haldia
- Irrigation network
- Drinking water for all
- Flood Control - River Restoration I· A Master Plan for connecting rivers in the State
SET UP A COMMISSION FOR
- Flood Control
- River Restoration
- A Master Plan for connecting rivers in the State
6. UNDERTAKE farmer centric comprehensive rural development program with a focus on
- Increasing agricultural productivity
- A revolution in agro processing
- Focus on agro research for farmers and with the farmers
7. RESTOREfinancial health of the state urgently State is in total financial bankruptcy: Restoration of State finances is a major challenge ahead
8. Rescue the state administration from he clutches of party centric and cadre centric exploitative model
Nurture impartial, transparent, honest and committed professionalism in Administration
Thrust will be on PEOPLE CENTRICITY
- Create an administration driven by information technology so that there is no need to meet government officials and no need to execute discretionary powers
And above all
REJUVENATE THE CULTURE OF THE STATE TO ONE OF HOPE, RESILENCE & INNOVATION
West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
Industrial Revival and Employment Generation
The basic industrial strategy is to create massive employment through development of the manufacturing sector
Also, a chain of industrial towns will be developed across the state and inter-linkages created
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) will focus on :
- Nurturing and attracting investment
- Employment creation
- Rehabilitation of State Public Sector Units (PSUs)
- Focus on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
The next revolution in manufacturing in the country should be led by West Bengal and in order to work towards it the following is the agenda for the first 200 days:
1) Enhance the ease of doing business for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises- (MSMEs) by radically cutting back obstructive rules, regulations and permissions which are a source of harassment for the small entrepreneurs.
This harassment is led by the NEXUS between the local (PI (M) party cadres and different arms of the administration.
ALL INDIA TRINAMOOL CONGRESS WILL DISSOLVE THIS STREAMLINE PROCEDURES
We will announce such streamlined procedures to bolster enterprise in the first 200 days
2) Rejuvenate the SME seeton through the following set of measures.
SUPPORTIVE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE FOR SMEs
Create Centres for financial advice and mentoring for SMEs using IT capabilities
CREATE CENTRES FOR SINGLE POINT PAYMENT
of taxes and other government levies to reduce pressure on SMEs
TECHNOLOGY UP-GRADATION FOR SMEs
Promote innovation-circle
TRAINING
human capital and skill development of basic skills with a focus on SMEs. Target creation of 300 ITls [from the present 51] for basic skills with focus on SME's worker requirement
USE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN CLUSTERS OF MICRO AND SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTEPRISES
- Take SME cluster to new trajectory of efficiency, productivity and growth.
- Use cutting edge IT tools as support framework for SMEs
COLLECTIVEMARKETING STRUCTURES
(CMS) for national and international linkages for SMEs
3) launch a massive Cluster Development Drive During the first 200 days, 17 clusters will be selected to be converted into world class centres of excellence with focus on cooperation between enterprises and promoting economies of scale.
We will also initiate value addition programs for SMEs going from mere raw material production to higher order finished products, keeping in view clean technology and protection of environment for the following products.
- Wearing apparel and readymade garments at Darjeeling, Kooch Behar, Maida, Bankura, Hoogly.
- Embroidery work, zari work and making of ornamental trimmings by hand at Howrah, South 24 Parganas, Metia Buruj, Uluberia, Panskura
- Fan manufacturing at Kolkata and North 24 Parganas
- Surgical instruments at Baruipur
- Re-rolling mills at Howrah. Hoogly
- Leather goods at Shantiniketan, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Nadia, Howrah
- Engineering goods at Howrah, Burdwan (Agricultural implements), Nadia (Auto implements), North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas
- Agricultural tools and implements at Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur, Birbhum, Purulia, Medinipur
- Food processing at Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Maida, Burdwan, South 24 Parganas, Birbhum, North 24 Parganas
- Ceramic products at South Dinajpur, South 24 Parganas, Hoogly
- Jute products at Burdwan, North Dinajpur, Nadia, Birbhum, South Dinajpur
- Cattle and poultry feed in all districts
- Steel furniture in all districts (majority units in Howrah - Liluah and Tiljala - Topsia belt)
- Brass products at Birbhum, Howrah, Bankura, Hoogly, Burdwan
- Clay pottery at Siliguri, Nadia, Bankura, Chaltaberia, Dattapukur, Baruipur, Kunnur (North Dinajpur), Kathalia, Purulia and Murshidabad.
- Wood carving at Burdwan, Birbhum, Nadia, Midnapur
- Bamboo handicraft in all relevant districts - Most units in North Dinajpur.
Core competence and comparative advantage of each and every district will be assessed and SMEs will be nurtured and rejuvenated on this basis.
Select a few
HIGH EXPORT POTENTIAL CLUSTERS
- Horn Products Cluster (East Medinipur)
- Shellac Cluster (Purulia)
- Dokra Products Cluster (Burdwan, Purulia, Krishna Nagar)
Core competency in Exports of each and every district to be identified and promoted.
REVIVING TRADITIONAL HANDICRAFT CLUSTERS
Many traditional handicrafts produced in different parts of the state need to be modernized and linked to national and international markets. We will create appropriate packages for financing, marketing, human capital development and technology transfer for these to scale up.
4) EMPOWERING INFORMAL SECTOR
Plan in the first 200 days for empowering the informal sector. For this State will develop a supportive mechanism involving grant of property rights through common facilities for the unorganized sector and create a Social Security Mechanism for employees of informal sector.
5) Develop work plan in the first 200 days to set up an industrial hub in each district.
6) A realistic incentive package will be developed for backward areas taking into consideration current infrastructure status and power and water availability.
7) Initiate work on rationalizing the state's taxation structure to promote an honest, business friendly and transparent taxation system.
8) Initiate the process of restarting closed Public Sector Units in the state.
Where PSUscannot be revived, land will be used to set up new industries without compromising the rights of workers.
9) Negotiate with the centre for coal and ore linkages for development of steel and metal based industry and power projects.
10) Plan in the first 200 days for reorganizing and modernizing the tea gardens in North Bengal.
11) Plan in the first 200 days for reorganizing and modernizing the jute mills in South Bengal and North Bengal.
12) Give a big push to herbal and medicinal plant industry in North Bengal. We will announce plans for scaling up and standardizing ayurvedic medicines production in the modern format to cater to all India and global markets. State government should partner with Department of Ayush at the centre.
13) Despite its enormous potential, the state has not been able to capitalize on the TOURISM sector.
Data reveals that in 2009, West Bengal accounted for only 3.2 percent of the total domestic tourist visits and 8.6 percent of the total foreign tourist visits in the country. Andhra Pradesh, with a share of 24.2 percent, takes the first position in domestic tourist visits. Tamil Nadu, with a share of 17.3 percent, takes the first position in foreign tourist visits in the country.
Our government will promote West Bengal as an ideal tourist destination - great places, great food and great people. We will develop specialized tourism products such as
- Pilgrimage tourism - Dakshineswar, Furfurasharif, Bandel Church, Tarapeeth, Gutiasharif, Belurmath, Jairambati, Mukut Manipur, Jai Chandipur, Bakreshwar, Nalhati, Kali Ghat and other important places.
Coastal & Beach Tourism - Digha, Sagar Islands,
- Ecotourism and wild life tourism - Sunderbans & Dooars
- Folk Tourism - Centres of Folk dance and drama across the State
- Educational Heritage & Culture Tourism - Shantiniketan, Bishnupur (Terrakota Temples)
- Himalaya Tourism (Darjeeling & surrounding areas) - - Trekking, white water rafting, adventure tourism
- Tea Garden tourism - Darjeeling & Dooars
- Metropolitan Tourism - In and around Kolkata and other important cities
- Cruise on the Ganga river (needs to be introduced in line with River Thames of London, Nile in Cairo, Seine in Paris, Hudson in New York)
- Botanical Garden - Shivpur in line with Kew Gardens, London
- Agri-Horticulture Garden - Alipore
- National Museum
- Jorasanko - (Home of Rabindra Nath Tagore)
- Netaji Museum - (Home of Subhash Chandra Bose)
It will endeavour to convert Darjeeling and adjoining Alipore Dooars area into Switzerland of the East and Digha into Goa of the East Coast
In the first 200 days we will plan for scaling up tourism related facilities like travel, stay and accommodation at all levels - starting with the basic to the high end - to cater to all tastes and pockets.
We will also review the manpower requirement of this sector and draw a plan to set up new tourism and hospitality training institutes acrossthe state.
14) Develop agro-processing units using State's unique resources of fruits and vegetables, flowers and marine food resources.
Fruits & Vegetables
Develop campaign for raising production, storage, processing, marketing of State's fruits, vegetables, flowers, beetle leafs (Pan) and marine products, prawns & fish, using local entrepreneurship and capabilities.
Conduct survey to identify unique products of each district in developing an integrated chain of agro-processing industries. An indicative list of area focus is given below:
- North & South 24 Parganas
- Burdwan
- Birbhum
- Howrah
- Maida
- Hoogly
- Naidia
- East & West Midnapur
- Murshidabad
- North & South Dinajpur
- Jalpaiguri
- Kuchbihar
- [All of these areas have their own specialities. Resurgence in the production and supply chain of each of the items will be targeted through the nurturing of local entrepreneurship. Those fruits & vegetables which already have a great brand name will be targeted as well - such as Litchis from Baruipur; Chillies from Sagar ; Mangoes of many varieties including the special varieties from Maida, Potatoes across districts.]
15) Foster collaborative environment in labour mana ement relations with a human face.
Infrastructure Development
The state of infrastructure facilities in West Bengal requires urgent attention. The current state of infrastructure facilities is putting pressure and not allowing the economy to take off. The new government will have to address the requirements of this sector on a war footing and for this we will -
1) Develop a blue print for the power sector, Our focus would be on
- Hydel energy,
- Coal based thermal power,
- Natural gas based and coal bed methane,
- Wind energy,
- Tidal energy in river basins,
- Solar power
2) Formulate a comprehensive work plan for food cold chains for 'FARM TO FAMILY' covering all major production centres of horticulture and marine food products.
3) Create a collaborative plan with Airports Authority of India for development of Kolkataairport comparable to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore airports.
4) Announce setting up of NEW AIRPORTSat Maldah, Cooch Behar, Balurghat, Asansole-Durgapur, Medinipur, Birbhum and Sagar. Also plan for up gradation of facilities at Bagdogra for making it an international airport.
Education Sector
The gap between West Bengal and other progressive states of the country in terms of educational infrastructure is huge. The new government will have to work overtime to revitalize the education sector in West Bengal from its present morass. We are fully committed to this task and will work along following lines to revamp the education . sector that defines the future of our children.
THRUST ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
1) Announce concrete plans for overhauling the vocational education program with a clear emphasis on Industrial Training Institutions (ITls) and Industrial Training Centres (lTCs).
TRAINING OF TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS
2) Scale up training of teachers program to be able to deliver on the above objective.
CREATION OF NEW UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGESAND SCHOOLS TO MEET PEOPLE'S ASPIRATIONS
1) Identify locations for new universities across the State
2) 10 more medical colleges
3) Muslim Universities & Colleges
4) Matua Community University
5) More Madrasas, and Urdu Schools
6) More Hindi Schools
7) Implement the recommendations of the Sacchar Committee and the Ranganathan Commission, where 10% Urdu speaking Muslims are there.
8) Set aside a portion of the State's Budget for plans intended for the educational and economic uplift of Muslims.
9) Give, without any hindrance, official recognition to Urdu educational Institutions, thereby facilitating them with all the constitutional benefits, which they lacked of hitherto.
10)Special Budgetary provision should be made for imparting technical education in Madrasas.
Our goal is to set up an impartial education system based on merit for appointing teachers.
School infrastructures will be revamped and new schools will be opened wherever there are gaps in all districts and towns of the State.
Health Sector
The state of West Bengal faces serious challenges and needs to upgrade its health care infrastructure. Except for the capital city Kolkata the standard of health facilities everywhere else is dismal. While about 72 percent of the population in the state resides in rural areas, rural hospitals account for less than 25 percent of all public hospitals in the state. To improve the spread and reach of healthcare facilities in the states, the new government will take the following steps.
1) Launch a program for building a four tier healthcare infrastructure through revamping of Primary Health Centres, District Hospitals, Sub Divisional Hospital and Super Specialty Apex Hospitals. This would be anchored on a hub and spoke model.
2) Create an appropriate policy for attracting private sector investments in healthcare.
3) Launch a new micro health insurance scheme specifically targeting the poor in the state.
4) Health facilities in rural areas needs immediate attention. National Rural Health Mission has set a norm that each Sub Centre, Primary Health Centre and Community Health Centre should serve 5000, 30000 and 120000 people respectively.
Data clearly shows that while Sub Centres in West Bengal are in numerical terms serving 5576 people in rural areas on an average [with quality being suspect], Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres are serving 62,634 and 172,901 people on an average in rural areas.
In other words the state faces an acute shortage of Primary Health Centres to the tune of 100 percent and of Community Health Centres to the tune of almost 50 percent.
Our government will evolve strategies and initiate action to meet these shortfalls in Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres as well as bring an improvement in quality of services offered in Sub Centres. We will also work towards ensuring at least one MULTI-FACILITY HOSPITAL IN EACH SUB-DIVISION.
Rural Development
Agriculture and allied activities continue to be the mainstay of the rural economy of West Bengal. However, the agriculture sector in West Bengal continues to suffer from five main drawbacks and these are-
- Limited crop diversification in several districts of the state
- Low marketable surplus of crops due to low productivity
- Non-availability of quality seeds within the state
- Poor agriculture extension
- Limited use of farm machinery
- Full support to the farmers
Our government will look into each of these issues. Our aim is to launch a massive program for turning around the rural economy of West Bengal based on significant enhancement of agricultural productivity and a new agro processing revolution.
Plan for a comprehensive policy on 'custom hiring' of, farm equipment in the state. We will encourage entrepreneurs to set up at least 5 to 10 farm service centres in each district by providing subsidies for purchase of farm machinery. Priority will be given to poor farmers and families.
Backward Area Development
The backward areas of the state, particularly those in the North Bengal region, call for a special work plan to address their specific problems. For developing the backward areas like Birbhum, Bankura etc, we will develop a comprehensive plan. In this plan we will look at-
1) Darjeeling problem will be solved and a comprehensive development plan for Darjeeling and Jangal mahal will be prepared for their overall development.
2) Industrial development based on local resource avallabllltv in these regions
3) Agricultural development based on their special agroclimatic conditions
4) Provision of basic services like health, education, water, sanitation to bring about an improvement in the human development indicators in these areas
5) Local language for Darjeeling, Adivasis (Alchiki) will be promoted.
6) Wherever Urdu speaking Muslims are 10% of the population, choice will be given for Urdu as a second language.
7) For Hindi majority areas, same formula will be followed.
State Finances
Public finances of West Bengal are in an alarming situation. Gross misuse of state funds with no focus on development expenditure has compromised the state's productive capacity. The new government will have turnaround the state's fiscal position. We will have to raise additional resources as well as compress and minimize the wasteful expenditure that has become the hallmark of CPI (M) government. For improving the financial health of the state we will in the first 200 days -
1) Initiate the process of simplifying and rationalizing state level taxes to improve tax compliance and curtail tax evasion.
2) Plan to strengthen the computerization process of the commercial taxes departments.
3) Plan to computerize the process of registration and modernise the system of payment stamp duties through banks.
4) Initiate restructuring of the State Transport Undertakings Our mission is to move away from DESTRUCTIVE POLICIES to CONSTRUCTIVE POLICIES for building public finances
REVIVING GREATER KOLKATA TO ITS OLD GLORY
Reviving Greater Kolkata which the Left Front government has turned into a dilapidated state. Greater Kolkata will be developed according to a new plan.
All India Trinamool Congress' job is to benchmark Kolkata with the best cities in the world
Why should Kolkata not be comparable to London?
For Rebuilding Kolkata, our government will
1) Prepare a Vision document to make Kolkata a national and international financial hub
2) Restart Kolkata Stock Exchange, which was closed down during the Left Front government regime
3) Develop an action plan to enhance infrastructure available at the Kolkata, Haldia and Sagar ports and to make these world class facilities matching Singapore and Hong Kong.
4) Kolkata Rail Vikas Corporation wi II be set up to strengthen the Metro system connecting it to suburban transport system.
5) Initiate regulatory and business process reforms on a 'mission mode'. World Bank has placed Kolkata at the 17th position in a study of major business locations in India. [Source - Doing Business in India, 2009 - World Bank] We will set up a road map to improve Kolkata's ranking and our focus would be on -
- Making registration of property hassle free and for this we will
- Initiate computerization of land records and training personnel to use new and advanced systems.
- Paying taxes without headache and for this we will
- Reduce the number of forms needed to fill taxes and improving working of tax administration
- Introduce online tax filing
- Set up an appropriate system for enforcement of contracts quick
- Making it possible to close a failing business just as much to start a new one
SPECIAL ACTION AGENDA FOR THE POOR AND WEAKEST SECTION AND MUNICIPAL SELF GOVERNANCE
All India Trinamool Congress will set up a special Action Agenda giving highest priority to :
1) Poorest of the poor - those at the bottom of the pyramid - they will get a special focus for empowerment
2) Social security scheme for the economically weaker sections will be launched within 200 days
3) A Taskforce will be set up for Panchayats and Municipalites to achieve transparency and development of these institutions
4) Project Monitoring Committees will take care of local Panchayats and municipality projects.
5) Government will give full priority to empower SC/ ST / 08C. There job vacancies will be filled up.
West Bengal: Action Agenda
[NEXT 1000 DAYS]
The medium to long term tasks before the new government are challenging but we are determined to meet these BOLDLY.
We understand that the measures that we have proposed to initiate in the first 200 days will only be a starting point for turning around West Bengal's flagging growth trajectory. Several new initiatives and pointers will emerge from this exercise. These and more will have to be carried forward in the subsequent period. And we are COMMITTED TO THIS TASK.
In the next 1000 days, our party sees the following as the priorities for the next government. While these are not exhaustive, these would form the core of our public policy agenda aimed squarely at TRANSFORMING WEST BENGAL INTO THE LEAGUE OF PROGRESSIVE AND FORWARD LOOKING STATES OF THE COUNTRY.
For strengthening industrial sector, we will in the next 1000 days ...
1) Extend the Cluster Development Drive and Value Addition Program for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across the state.
2) Complete the process of setting up an industrial hub in each district.
3) Start setting up industrial township networks across the state.
4) Implement plans for rejuvenating the tea and the jute industry.
5) Extend the spread of IT industry to Haldia, Durgapur, Kharagpur, Kalyani and Siliguri with a TARGET TO CAPTURE 25 PERCENT OF INDIA'S IT REVENUES BY 2015.
6) Set up a Centre of Excellence for research on Vaccines and other people related medical breakthroughs.
7) Set up a Centre of Excellence with a long term futuristic vision on cutting edge technologies and innovation.
For strengthening infrastructure sector, we will in the next 1000 days ...
1) Initiate and complete the process of inviting players from both the private and the public sector and offering contracts to modernise and improve facilities at the Kolkata airport and other identified airports in the state.
2) Develop West Bengal as a logistics hub and a transport corridor. West Bengal is critically located. It is a natural logistics hub covering areas from Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the entire North East region.
3) We will also take up 'Rivers as highways project' and develop Allahabad-Haldia stretch of the Ganga for effective transportation by waterways which is the cheapest and least polluting mode of transportation.
4) Implement the comprehensive work plan for food cold chains covering all major production centres of horticulture and marine food products. We will make West Bengal an (Export Hub' in the East.
5) Initiate phased implementation of the blueprint developed for the power secton,
For strengthening education sector, we will in the next 1000 days...
1) Model and present West Bengal as an 'Educational Hub of the East' and for this-
- Calcutta University and Jadavpur University should be turned into {Centres of Excellence' comparable to the best in the world.
- BECollege (Shibpur) should be an IIT
- Vishwa Bharti University should be developed as a leading centre for humanities and liberal arts. Kalyani University, North Bengal, Burdwan should be developed as leading centres for agriculture sciences. Seats in these institutions should be offered to students from South East Asia, China and Middle East.
- Set up more new universities based on the model of Aligarh Muslim University
For strengthening health sector, we will in the next 1000 days ... Health for the entire scheme ... 1) Outline a policy for setting up of at least 15 new medical colleges over the next three years in the state
2) Implement the plan for meeting the shortfall in Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres acrossthe state
3) Complete the program for setting up at least one multi facility hospital in each sub-division
For strengthening agriculture sector, we will in the next 1000 days ...
1) Develop and announce a new Food Processing Policy to encourage investments in this sector with a clear mandate to enhance value addition.
2) Launch a program to promote setting up of cooperatives amongst farmers using the Gujarat / Maharashtra model for economic usage of water, common extension services and achieving economies of scale.
3) Complete the process of APMC reforms and ensure meaningful implementation on the ground level in key areas like direct marketing, contract farming, setting up of private mandis etc.
For strengthening state finances, we will in the next 1000 days...
1)Take steps to improve enforcement of state excise, prevent illicit distillation of liquor, ensure proper registration of motor vehicles and transfer of immovable properties ...these would considerably arrest the massive revenue leakages that plagues the present system.
2) Implement the plans for
- Computerization of commercial taxes departments
- Computerization of the process of registration and
- Payment of stamp duties through banks, training and education of tax administrators.
For strengthening water management in the state, we will in the next 1000 days...
1) Create a policy framework that supports growth of water reuse, wastewater treatment and standards
2) Map and plan water use patterns throughout the state
3) Run awareness campaigns targeted at households to monitor water quality, particularly ARSENIC CONTENT IN UNDERGROUND WATER, conserve water and provide education on managing household waste to lower costs of treatment
4) Introduce rain water harvesting throughout the state to conserve this precious resource
5) Conceptualize a plan on usage of rivers Finally, our government will launch a massive drive for greening of West Bengal
Deforestation, rampant misuse of natural resources and complete neglect of state's bio-diversity by the Left Front government has destroyed West Bengal's pristine environment.
This needs to be restored as people's welfare depends critically on clean environment. And for greening of West Bengal, we will ...
1) Take up large scale planting of trees
2) Promote alternate sources of energy in villages
3) Promote community conservation and cleaning ot 'commons' including rivers, lakes, forests, wildlife sanctuaries, mangroves
4) Protect areas of ecological importance
5) Effectively utilize the funds earmarked for the 'Clean Ganga Project'
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