Entire world will follow the path shown by Bengal: Mamata

Siliguri (WB), Sep 22: Highly optimistic about her schemes in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today expressed hope that the entire world would in future follow the path shown by her government in respect of girls, youths and other sections of people for their all round development.

Distributing bicycles under Sabuj Sathi project among 18,000 students of class IX in state-run, aided and sponsored schools here, Banerjee said that success of her schemes would force other parts of the world to follow them.

"What we are doing for the girls, youths and others in West Bengal for their all round development, the entire world will follow the path shown by us in the days to come," she said addressing the gathering.

Wishing the students a bright future and a promising academic career, Banerjee said that youths and students would make Bengal the best in future. "We want the students to stand on their own feet in future. Never allow negative thoughts to fill your minds," she advised the students.

The Chief Minister hoped, "The present generation of students will produce more stalwarts like Rabindranth, Netaji or Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose." "Altogether 35 lakh girls have been registered under Kanyashree. It is a major project for empowerment of girl child. We have increased the financial assistance under Sikkhashree scheme. We have allocated Rs 200 Crore for a merit cum means scholarship named after Swami Vivekananda," Banerjee said.

The Backward Class Welfare department has taken up a unique scheme to train up to 3000 local youths belonging to SC and ST to maintain and repair the bicycles that had been distributed. This will help them to become financially self reliant, she said.

Under the scheme, forty lakh bicycles would be given statewide at an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore. The state government has already distributed 25 lakh bicycles among the students of Class X, XI and XII.

The CM also inaugurated a Cooperative, named by her as Shreshtarghya, for the journalists of north Bengal. Banerjee handed over the land documents to the Siliguri Journalists' Club. A plot of 5 kathas of land were allotted for the SJC at Kawakhali at the outskirt here.

The state government had already announced a health insurance scheme for journalists, named by the chief minister as 'Mabhoi'. The scheme "West Bengal Health Scheme for Journalists, 2016" is applicable for all West Bengal Government-accredited journalists till the age of 65, including those who have retired.

PTI