Kolkata, 8 January (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday reaffirmed the state’s leading position in diverse fields such as education, culture, and sports, emphasizing its rich heritage and progressive legacy. Speaking at the 'Students Week' programme in Kolkata, she urged the people of Bengal to counter any attempts to undermine the state’s glorious traditions and achievements.Santosh Trophy Winners to Join State PoliceThe Chief Minister announced that all members of Bengal’s Santosh Trophy squad, which clinched the championship this year, would be recruited into the state police force in junior official ranks under a special quota.
Highlighting Bengal’s historical contributions, Banerjee named icons like Raja Rammohan Roy and Iswarchandra Vidyasagar, who played pivotal roles in abolishing social evils like 'Sati' and advocating for women’s education. She also praised Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and poet Kazi Nazrul Islam for their efforts in fostering unity, patriotism, and social harmony through their works.
Banerjee lauded the contributions of eminent Bengali academicians like economist Amartya Sen and historian Sugata Bose, who have made a mark globally. She encouraged students to pursue higher education in Bengal’s “world-class institutions” to realize their dreams without facing uncertainties, as witnessed during the Russia-Ukraine war when medical students had to return home.
-----
Achievements in Education and Employment
The Chief Minister highlighted several initiatives taken since 2011:
Establishment of 500 ITIs and other training institutes.
Training of 47 lakh students under the 'Utkarsha Bangla' scheme, with plans to skill several more.
Creation of 10 lakh jobs through the initiative.
Introduction of advanced courses in artificial intelligence and data science in state institutions.
Establishment of 53 new colleges.
-------
West Bengal: A Growing Industrial Hub
Banerjee stated that Bengal has become a preferred destination for industrial houses, providing abundant employment opportunities for students graduating from the state’s institutes. She also noted that West Bengal leads in the MSME sector across India.
Addressing parents, Banerjee advised them to allow children to follow their passions and explore diverse career paths. “There are many new opportunities for today’s youngsters in emerging fields like AI and data science,” she said.
Banerjee celebrated Bengal’s dominance in sports, predicting that the state’s table tennis academy products would bring laurels to India in future Olympics.
Hindusthan Samachar / SP Singh
