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Ahead of 2019 polls, Mamata writes to beneficiaries of state schemes in Bengal
Kolkata, March 7 (IANS) Virtually adopting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reach-out style, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written open letters in multiple languages to the beneficiaries of various state schemes ahead of the 2019 general election.
Banerjee’s signed letter, giving an account of various development drives taken up by her government since coming to power in 2011 for different segments of the society, is being distributed to the beneficiaries in cities, towns and villages of the state.
It is seen as a bid to counter the Modi government’s reach-out to beneficiaries of its Ayushmann Bharat health scheme.
The Bengal government pulled out of the scheme in January this year, accusing the Centre of using the picture of Prime Minister in the letters to take credit for a jointly funded project.
Starting late last year, Modi had written two-page personalised letters to the beneficiaries of the Ayushmann Bharat scheme in eight languages across all states to educate them of benefits of the project as also those of other government welfare measures such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana.
According to sources at the state secretariat Nabanna, the primary thrust of Banerjee’s missive is on education, health, transport and food and civil supplies departments.
State Food Supplies Minister Jyotipriyo Mullick said more than 8.5 crore consumers under the state government’s food security scheme (Khadya Sathi) have received the letters in various districts.
“Our department has issued the letters signed by our Chief Minister to over 8.5 crore beneficiaries of Khadya Sathi. We are expecting to complete the work of circulating the letters by tomorrow (Friday). Unllike Narendra Modi, we are not giving letters sealed in envelopes. These are open letters for everyone to see,” Mullick told IANS.
“A number of other departments are also issuing the same letters to the respective beneficiaries of other schemes like ‘Kanyashree’ for school-going girls, ‘Swasthay Sathi’ for contractual and casual workers and ‘Gitanjali Housing Scheme’ for building houses,” he said.
The minister said, keeping the linguistic diversity of Bengal in mind, the letters are being issued in multiple languages such as Nepali in northern Bengal hills, Hindi in the industrial belts of Durgapur-Asansol and Ol Chiki in the tribal areas.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.