7500 homeless land less benefitted under Nijo Griho Nijo Bhumi (NGNB) in Burdwan

One of the most successful initiative of Govt of West Bengal, pattas of homestead land of three kathas, known as NGNB, extended benefits to 7503 homeless and landless poor families in Burdwan district till 31st March 2013.

• NGNB was launched in January 2012 with target of covering all land less in two years.
• We identified 9100 families in rural areas through intensive field surveys last year and enlisted them for benefits under NGNB.
• In 2011-12 last quarter only we could provide pattas of vested Govt lands to 1150 families.
• In 2012-13 financial year we could cover record number of 5353 families throughout Burdwan district and 1000 further pattas are being distributed in April 2013.
• All sincere efforts are being taken to cover rest 1600 families and more to be identified subsequently through field verifications by May 2013.
• So, Burdwan is all set to achieve its target in record 18 months time. 
• NGNB beneficiaries have also been provided grants to construct houses under IAY, Geetanjali, Amar Thikana and other rural housing schemes.
• We constructed 14048 IAY houses, 521 Geetanjali and 1200 Amar thikana houses last year where substantial number of NGNB patta holders were covered.
• Reviewed the performance of scheme with Sdos and Bdos on 12th April 2013 at VC room Burdwan. Instructions issued to extend benefits of credit schemes, SHGs and social welfare schemes to these beneficiaries.

We appreciate the best performance of this scheme in Burdwan and look forward to cover all eligible persons on vested lands available and to be resumed from illegal encroachments/ possession. Applications may be sent to BLLRO by any interested but eligible person to enlist.

Well done Team Burdwan.

Burdwan district collected highest ever revenue from Land, minor minerals and coal.

Land revenue : Rs 65 crores as on 11th April 2013, likely to cross Rs 70 crores by Poila Baisakh closing day of year. Good collections from Sands, murram and bricks.
Last year it was Rs 62 crores.
Coal cess and royalty : Rs 1561 crores as per collection in Burdwan, does not include deposits at Kolkata Pay and accounts.
Last year Rs 1441 crores, increased by Rs 120 crores. Mainly from ECL, BCCL, EMTA, ICML, IISCO coal units and other small coal companies.
Motor Vehicles : Rs 186 crores. Last year Rs 162 crores,  increased by Rs 24 crores. Enforcement collection by Motor Vehicle Inspectors and Sdos Rs 32 crores,  record growth.
Stamp duty and registration : Rs 150 crores.
Overall revenue growth 36 percent over previous year.
Well done Team Burdwan

Economic Rehabilitation grants, ex gratia to next of kins to 152 families at Burdwan Sanskriti Metro today

District administration has arranged distribution of Economic Rehabilitation grants and Ex Gratia grants to economically poor families who are in distress. 152 beneficiaries collected cheques from District Magistrate, Burdwan on 11th April 2013 at 12 noon at Sanskriti Metro.

• ER grants provided to 80 persons today to the persons who have insignificant means of livelihood, mostly beggars, destitute, disabled and single family females and divorced. We extended benefits to 200 spending Rs 16.65 lakhs this year.
• Each of them were given Rs 5000 for purchase of sewing machine, stitching machines and Rs 10000 each for starting their own business like tea stall, goatary, grocery shop, ready made garments, van rickshaw, cycle repair shop etc so as to earn for their livelihood. Beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction and felt honoured to start their own business with the small grants provided by administration.
• District administration took initiated to rehabilitate beggars, orphans from Railway Stations, Streets and Bus stands of major towns in Burdwan through special surveys conducted during winter last year. While, some of them were deported to their home states, locals have been selected for Economically Rehabilitation schemes of Disaster Management department. Some of those identified in Urban areas as well Blocks are being provided grants today.
• We are also distributing Ex Gratia grants of Rs 2 lakhs in each case to Next of Kins who died during natural calamities like storms, cyclones, floods, snake bite and major road accidents. 72 families families were given the grants sanctioned by the District Magistrate today. This year administration released Rs 214 lakhs to 325 Next of Kins in Burdwan district.

We are happy to assist these distressful families and endeavour to continue such welfare activities. Further grants will be distributed from Bocks and Sub divisions.

One Lakh rupees to Destitute Minority women, sanctioned for construction of House

One destitute woman looking very fragile and ill, namely Aleya Bagam, met DM Burdwan this morning and requested to get sanction of house to her as she has nobody to take care and no shelter. She is 70 years old and stays at c/o Abdul Oyahid of Mathrun GP Simulia-I under Mongolkote block. She approached Hon'ble CM Office and was advised to meet DM Burdwan.

 

Considering the condition and need of the destitute woman, a sum of Rupees one lakh sanctioned today and BDO Mangalkote advised to ensure construction of her house over two decimal land she owns. The funds has been sanctioned under Destitute Women Rehabilitation Programme. 49 persons have been benefited so far under the scheme.

News item on surgery of ICDS kids as published in Sambad Pratidin today.

Meeting with Hon'ble Governor West Bengal at Burdwan Circuit House

Received Hon'ble Governor Mr MK Narayanan on 10th April at 7.30 pm at Burdwan Circuit House. I had interacted with him on several earlier occasions at Durgapur and Burdwan during official visits. It's always pride and privilege to talk to him.

Our all respects and salute to his simplicity and encouragement to district officers.
Hon'ble Governor left for Joyrambati in Bankura at 8 am this morning after Guard of Honour presented by Burdwan District Police.

From the Statesman on 11th April 2013 "Administration to bear surgery costs of ICDS kids"

Administration to bear surgery costs of ICDS kids

10 April 2013statesman news serviceDURGAPUR, 10 APRIL: The district administration has agreed to bear surgery expenses of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) kids suffering from cardiac ailments. Five such children have primarily been selected for the same.Roni Mete, around four-and-a-half-years underwent successful surgery on 4 April and is now recovering. He belongs to a BPL family from the  Bonkati village, Kanksa PS area.

 

On 5 April, Anita Hasda was admitted to a private hospital. Parvin Khatoon, another such patient was admitted on 8 April.Today, Nandini Kisku and Sk Niamuddin, underwent cardiac surgeries.

The district administration provided Rs 1.20 lakh for both. The DM, Burdwan, Mr Onkar S Meena, the one responsible for the venture, said: “We run 9,300 ICDS Centres in Burdwan and we had initiated a programme to take stock of the children's health, which exposed that many were suffering from malnutrition and that some were also facing acute cardiac disorder.” He also said: “We discussed the matter with the private tertiary care hospital, whether they would agree to operate the children against subsidies expense.”

The DM said the undertaking became possible after the hospital authority in Durgapur agreed.After last year’s positive health check-up camps in ICDS Centres, the district authority has now replicated the affirmative for ICDS kids. Growth monitoring, including regular health and weight check-ups of 5 lakh kids were conducted at ICDS centres of the district, covering 39 projects, by ICDS workers visiting each house in the past six months across the district. In all, around 3,400 children were identified through screening with below average growth moderate to severely malnourished children and they were facilitated health check up by medical teams and child specialists to ascertain their causes of illness and poor body growth. On their recommendations, the officials said that it was found that out of them 146 children needed immediate surgeries for serious ailments related to heart, eyes, kidney, hernia, orthopaedic.

The DM said: “We submitted a proposal to the state and got sanction of Rs 35 lakh from NRHM funds for treatment of these kids at private and state-run hospitals at our expenses to be paid to a hospital of the parents' choice.”

Economic Rehabilitation grants, ex gratia to next of kins to 152 families at Burdwan Sanskriti Metro today

District administration has arranged distribution of Economic Rehabilitation grants and Ex Gratia grants to economically poor families who are in distress. 152 beneficiaries collected cheques from District Magistrate, Burdwan on 11th April 2013 at 12 noon at Sanskriti Metro.

• ER grants provided to 80 persons today to the persons who have insignificant means of livelihood, mostly beggars, destitute, disabled and single family females and divorced. We extended benefits to 200 spending Rs 16.65 lakhs this year.
• Each of them were given Rs 5000 for purchase of sewing machine, stitching machines and Rs 10000 each for starting their own business like tea stall, goatary, grocery shop, ready made garments, van rickshaw, cycle repair shop etc so as to earn for their livelihood. Beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction and felt honoured to start their own business with the small grants provided by administration.
• District administration took initiated to rehabilitate beggars, orphans from Railway Stations, Streets and Bus stands of major towns in Burdwan through special surveys conducted during winter last year. While, some of them were deported to their home states, locals have been selected for Economically Rehabilitation schemes of Disaster Management department. Some of those identified in Urban areas as well Blocks are being provided grants today.
• We are also distributing Ex Gratia grants of Rs 2 lakhs in each case to Next of Kins who died during natural calamities like storms, cyclones, floods, snake bite and major road accidents. 72 families families were given the grants sanctioned by the District Magistrate today. This year administration released Rs 214 lakhs to 325 Next of Kins in Burdwan district.

We are happy to assist these distressful families and endeavour to continue such welfare activities. Further grants will be distributed from Bocks and Sub divisions.

Press release on mgnrega burdwan page2

Press release on MGNREGA in Burdwan page1

MGNREGA BURDWAN 2012-13 : Record Rs 503 Crores spent generating 230 lakhs man days, highest ever by any district in India

Annual reports on MGNREGA achievements for 2012-13 in Burdwan district shows that district spent Rs 503 crores out of which payments of 490 crores cleared and uploaded on MIS at www.nrega.nic.in. 

 

Expenditure

 

District got Rs 495 crores only, so wage payments in some of the GPs are still pending.

1. Last year we spent Rs 359 crores. The expenditure this year has increased by Rs 144 crores. 
2. Burdwan is the only district in the country to have crossed expenditure of Rs 500 crores in a financial year and tops among all districts of India. No other district could cross expenditure of Rs 400 crores.

Employment generation

1. Employment generation is 230 lakhs man days involving 5.97 lakhs families. There is increase of 41 lakhs over previous year and highest ever by any district in West Bengal.
2. Burdwan generated 189 lakhs man days last year. Employment generation is the highest in Bhatar, 28 lakhs followed by Mangalkote 22 lakhs.
3. Employment generation is very good in Kanksa, Jamalpur, Ausgram2, Raina1, Raina2, Khandghosh, Monteswar and Memari2 blocks also and has increased over last year in all blocks.
4. Wage payments to such a large number of families is the record.

• We could have reached 300 lakhs man days, but adequate funds were not released in last six months. District got only Rs 78 crores in January to March 2013 which was used to clear pending wage bills.
• Annual Labour Budget was sanctioned for 227 lakhs man days by Govt of India assuring Rs 515 crores this year but only Rs 460 crores were actual released, though district submitted online reports in time, had no audit paras and pending issues.
• District has no funds at present to make payment of wages against ongoing works where more than one lakh labourers are engaged. There are pending dues of Rs 33 crores wages as per the information collected from GPs. Pending bills of material is approximately Rs 20 crores. 
• We hope to get adequate funds by end of April 2013 to clear pending dues and take up new works.

We thank all those associated with MGNREGA implementation at Panchayat level to blocks for such a remarkable success and expect them to show better performance in current financial year.

 

Well done Team Burdwan.

 

Summer starts, with temperature touching 40 degree C, water in wells dry

Weather reports issued yesterday warns high temperatures in parts of Burdwan district,  mainly industrial areas. Water level of wells has gone down, as also the tube Wells.

• We have asked PHE to expedite handing over of all 300 rig bores set up out of PUP funds. Already 280 plus handed over to public for use.
• All bdos of Asansol and Durgapur sub divisions have been asked to immediately start supplying water through hired tankers in all the rural areas where water sources are dried up or not available.
• Adequate funds have been placed. 
• Health authorities have been asked to keep adequate salines including medicines, generator back up, additional fans/ coolers and ensure that health personnel are available round the clock. 
• Drinking water in public places is appealed to be arranged by local bodies,  civil societies and chamber of commerce so as to assist general public. Administration will be happy to refill water hiring tankers. All needs to take extra care during summer.
• Video Conference was held with Durgapur and Asansol officers and issued details guidelines to mitigate impact of heat wave.

River damodar at Dakshin Bhasapur in Galsi2. Dry river, no water.

This is picture of Damodar River at Galsi2 on 7th April 2013 at 1 pm. We visited the vested land of 399 acres in the Char of river along with officers from Agriculture department to explore possibility of seed production on this fertile land. Land is suitable.
One can notice immense potential of this place due to sand mining getting revenue to state and fertile lands that can produce good quality seeds.

 

Some photographs of Ashram Hostel at SHAR attached to Chintaharan Mukherjee Smriti Vidyamandir

 

This is dinning hall for 165 students. There are only two ceiling fans in this large hall and no benches or tables. Students sit on the floor and take their meals. Infrastructure is not adequate.

 

I have asked SAE of PO DWO office to prepare estimates for sufficient fans, dinning table, benches and adequate lights in dinning hall. Funds to be provided in the similar manner as was allotted to 16 hostels @ Rs 2.8 to 3 lakhs each.

 

Students led by 9th Class boy narrating the condition of their hostel to me during by visit last week. It is known that cost of text books for class nine or ten students is Rs 1500 to 2000 per session which is borne by poor students. Maintenance charges @ Rs 750 pm is paid from Backward Classes Welfare funds released on quarterly basis. Students from class 1 to 8 gets the text books from Govt. free of cost.

 

I have suggested one time grants of Rs 50000 to buy books to be kept as book bank. Students can deposit the text books after end of session for use by their juniors. Funds for the purpose can be allotted from Govt. grants. Bank accounts of all students have been opened to get Rs 2250 special education grants to students of class 9 & 10. PO DWO has been asked to release the grants immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

These are urinals. There is only one block of urinals and one block of toilets. Toilets are defunct as not repaired. Urinals are  not cleaned properly. There are three Mark II hand pumps for taking bath in open for 165 students.

Asked School authorities to send estimates. Funds shall be provide to repair facilities and add more units. I have also advised BDO who accompanied me to supply them carom boards, volleyballs, footballs and other kits of games from Sports allotment. Regular visit to hostels is required to take care of needs of students.

Double storied building constructed for Mathematics Laboratory in Chintaharan Smriti High School at Shar under Aushram2

This is photograph of Chintaharan Mukherjee Smriti Vidya Mandir High School at SHAR in Ausgram2 block.

• During my recent visit I found that this double storied building has been constructed out of Additional Class Room funds of Sarva Siksha Mission but school authorities decided to run Mathematics Laboratory of High Secondary classes not covered under SSM grants.
• Now, see that inside photo. The room is occupied by Contractors for stay of their workers who are constructing class rooms of school and first floor is vacant and fully non utilised.
• I don't understand why school authorities plan so badly. It can't be treated proper utilisation of SSM grants but wasteful expenditure. In the same school, there is tremendous shortage of class rooms and accommodation in 165 bedded hostels attached to school is inadequate.
• Best use of infrastructure is expected.

 

Picture below shows vacant first floor, never used after construction one year ago.

This picture shows inside view of Mathematics Laboratory