In a first, Bengal bags highest number of SKOCH awards

Kolkata: With Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee undertaking a series of development projects for the overall development of the state, Bengal has bagged the highest number of SKOCH awards in 2018.

This is the first time when the Bengal government has won the highest number of SKOCH awards by implementing projects that have immensely benefitted the people of the state.

Different departments, state owned undertakings and districts have received more than 100 SKOCH Order-of-Merit awards. The 52nd SKOCH summit was held in New Delhi for three days from June 21.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) department has received three SKOCH awards and it includes one Gold and one Silver citation. The project of setting up the MSME Facilitation Centre has bagged Gold citation and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) application, which was implemented as Service With a Smile (SWAS) has received the Silver citation. SWAS is a mobile-based application in both android and IOS as a help desk for entrepreneurs.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister had directed to take necessary steps so that information related to the services and benefits extended by the government easily reach entrepreneurs and people involved with the MSME sector at the grassroot level.

Accordingly, the projects were introduced and implemented properly. It has brought immense success to the state's MSME sector. The project of developing infrastructure of state-approved industrial park under PPP mode has also bagged the SKOCH award.

The state Panchayat and Rural Development department has also received the SKOCH award. The department has successfully implemented the hundred days work scheme to ensure jobs to the rural populace. Bengal government has been awarded for the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Several steps, which were taken by the Chief Minister in the past seven years, has given a fresh lease of life to the Agriculture sector of the state. The state Agriculture department had developed Matir Katha, an interactive platform, through which farmers get guidance of experts through phone calls. The same facility is also available online as the state Agriculture department has launched an app called Matir Katha, through which reply to farmers' questions are given within minimum time.

Many other departments of the Mamata Banerjee government have bagged the SKOCH award for various projects. Departments that also received the awards, include Health and Family Welfare Department, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs department, Agriculture department and the state Transport department.

The Chief Minister has introduced the Samabyathi scheme to extend support to bereaved family members from economically poor section of the society to carry out the last rites of the deceased.

The state Transport department has received the Gold citation of the SKOCH award for its project Gatidhara, which ensured means of livelihood to thousands of youth by providing financial assistance to buy commercial vehicles.

Besides the departments of the state government, district administration of Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Dakshin Dinajpur, Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) have received SKOCH awards for different projects.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister keeps reviewing the projects at both the state and district level. It has ensured the timely completion and implementation of the projects.