Committed to make Bengal self-reliant: Mamata

Blaming the erstwhile Left Front government for making West Bengal "dependent", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday asserted her government was working towards making the state self-reliant in terms of food produce.

Speaking at a public rally in Malda, Banerjee also announced and inaugurated a slew of projects for the district. During the day, she also held a meeting with district administration taking stock of the progress in implementation of different governmental schemes.

"With fish coming from Bangladesh and Andhra Pradesh, onions coming from others states, we had become dependent on others for our food. All this has happened because the previous government never cared," she said.

Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress chief, said her government has initiated several schemes and programmes including undertaking pisciculture in 350 ponds and producing onion in the bulk in the state.

Stating that the development of Bengal was dependent on the growth of its rural economy, she said the government was committed towards building rural infrastructure and assured incentives for boosting cottage and small scale industries.

Besides announcing 13 model schools in the district for the economically backward sections, Banerjee said her government will set up an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and a polytechnic college in every block of the district.

She also announced an International Centre for Horticulture to come up on 70 acres of land in the district which will benefit mango and litchi growers.

Even as she blamed the previous regime for leaving the state "debt burdened" and the central government for taking away all its revenue, Banerjee asked the people to be patient for the implementation of the schemes and projects announced.

"A seed does not instantly transform into a full-grown tree. It takes time. We are taking initiatives, results will follow surely but they will take time," she said.

She also her government was mulling to connect Malda with Kolkata through a helicopter service.