ALL INDIA TRINAMOOL

CONGRESS

WEST BENGAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION

2011
WEST BENGAL: A CHANGE FOR A
BETTER AND BRIGHTER
TOMORROW

GOOD GOVERNENCE

ALL INDIA TRINAMOOL CONGRESS

Page 1 of 59
 AN APPEAL

This is a humble submission to the elders, youngsters, sisters

and brothers of Bengal, on behalf of All India Trinamool
Congress for 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.

Page 2 of 59
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.

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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 bulwark 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 Congress will 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.

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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)

Page 5 of 59
 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]

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 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
Page 7 of 59
1. Dramatic decline of industry

2. State government in a shameful debt trap : The

ruin of public finances

3. Creaking infrastructure

4. Agriculture languishing

Page 8 of 59
 Irrefutable 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.
Share of Manufacturing in Net State Domestic Product
Gujarat Orissa West Bengal
1975-76 19% 8% 19%
1990-91 17% 6% 15%
2000-01 24% 7% 9%
2006-07 27% 13% 10%
2007-08 29.6% 15.2% 7.9%
2008-09 - 13.6% 7.4%
Source – Annual Survey of Industries / Central Statistical Organisation

Share of Manufacturing in Net State Domestic Product – WEST BENGAL

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 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.
Share in total number of factories in India
West Bengal
1976-77 7.60%
1990-91 5.09%
1999-00 4.86%
2005-06 4.44%
2008-09 4.00%
Source – Annual Survey of Industries / Central Statistical Organisation

Share in total number of factories in India – WEST BENGAL

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 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.
West Bengal’s share in employment in manufacturing sector in India
1976-77 1990-91 1999-00 2005-06 2008-09
West Bengal 13.28% 9.08% 7.21% 5.66% 5.0%

Source – Annual Survey of Industries / Central Statistical Organisation

West Bengal’s share in employment in manufacturing sector in India

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 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
Share in Gross Value Added in manufacturing sector in India
1976-77 1990-91 1999-00 2005-06 2008-09
West Bengal 11.61% 5.90% 3.72% 3.21% 3.2%

Source – Annual Survey of Industries / Central Statistical Organisation

Share in Gross Value Added in manufacturing sector in India –

WEST BENGAL

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 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 18.4 percent in 2008-09. All
India share of industry during the same time grew from 22
percent to 25.8 percent.
Share of Industry in Net State Domestic Product
Gujarat Orissa West Bengal All India
1975-76 26% 14% 27% 22%
2006-07 38% 28% 21% 27%
2007-08 41.87% 27.98% 18.06% 26.46%
2008-09 - 25.8% 18.4% 25.76%
Source - Central Statistical Organisation

Share of Industry in Net State Domestic Product – WEST BENGAL

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 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.
Agriculture – Average annual growth rate
1965-66 to 1975-76 2000-01 to 2006-07
West Bengal 17.3% 7.8%

Source – Central Statistical Organisation

Agriculture – Average annual growth rate – WEST BENGAL

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 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 Responsibility 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

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 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.

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 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 –

Road length in kms per one lakh of population

Number of engineering colleges

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 Number of AICTE approved business schools

Number of government Industrial Training Institutions

Number of private Industrial Training Centres

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 Additionally,

 Port capacity has remained stagnant. In 2009-10, while Kolkata

port handled traffic 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.
Aircraft movements in 2008-09

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 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.

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 Crisis in education
 West Bengal is ranked 32nd among the states of India with an
Educational Development Index (EDI) value of 0.494 in 2008-
09
State-wise Ranking on Composite Educational Development Index (Primary and
Upper Primary) in India (2008-2009)

 Dropout rate is 7th highest in the country and is higher than

the national dropout rate.
State-wise Dropout Rates in Classes I-X in India (2007-2008)

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 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.

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 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

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 Part B
Regeneration of West Bengal
Tasks before the new government

Page 24 of 59
 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 PSUs across 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

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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

program 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

SET UP A COMMISSION FOR :

♣ Flood Control
♣ River Restoration
♣ A Master Plan for connecting rivers in the State

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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. RESTORE financial 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 the 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, RESILIENCE & INNOVATION

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West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]

Page 28 of 59
 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.

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 This harassment is led by the NEXUS between the local CPI
(M) party cadres and different arms of the administration.

ALL INDIA TRINAMOOL CONGRESS WILL DISSOLVE THIS

NEXUS AND UNTANGLE THIS BUREAUCRATIC MAZE TO
STREAMLINE PROCEDURES

We will announce such streamlined procedures to bolster

enterprise in the first 200 days.

2) Rejuvenate the SME sector 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-circles

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 TRAINING
human capital and skill development of basic skills with a focus
on SMEs. Target creation of 300 ITIs [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

COLLECTIVE MARKETING 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, Malda, Bankura, Hoogly.

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 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, Malda, 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.

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 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

Page 33 of 59
 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 PSUs cannot 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.

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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

Page 35 of 59
 Manipur, Jai Chandipur, Bakreshwar, Nalhati, Kali Ghat and
other important places.

Coastal & Beach Tourism - Digha, Sagar Islands,

 Eco tourism 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

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 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 across the 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
• Malda
• Hoogly
• Naidia
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 • 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 Malda,
Potatoes across districts. ]

15) Foster collaborative environment in labour management

relations with a human face.

Page 38 of 59
 West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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.

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3) Create a collaborative plan with Airports Authority of
India for development of Kolkata airport comparable to
Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore airports.
4) Announce setting up of NEW AIRPORTS at 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.

Page 40 of 59
 West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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 (ITIs) and Industrial Training Centres (ITCs).

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, COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS TO
MEET PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS
1) Identify locations for new universities across the State
2) 10 more medical colleges
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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.

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 West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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 facilties 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.

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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.

Sub centres Primary health centres Community health centers

Comprehensive
District hospitals healthcare development Sub divisional hospitals

Super specialty hospitals

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 West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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.
Page 45 of 59
 West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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 availability

in these regions

3) Agricultural development based on their special agro-

climatic 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.

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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.

Page 47 of 59
 West Bengal: Action Agenda
[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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

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 Our mission is to move away from DESTRUCTIVE POLICIES to
CONSTRUCTIVE POLICIES for building public finances

West Bengal: Action Agenda

[FIRST 200 DAYS]
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

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 make these world class facilities matching Singapore
and Hong Kong.

4) Kolkata Rail Vikas Corporation will 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 quick
enforcement of contracts
 Making it possible to close a failing business just
as much to start a new one
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 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

Municipalities 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 /

OBC. There job vacancies will be filled up.

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West Bengal: Action Agenda
[NEXT 1000 DAYS]

Page 52 of 59
 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…

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 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.

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 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 sector.

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.

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 ♣ BE College (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 All the 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 across the
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…

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 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.
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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.

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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 of

‘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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