speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a state technical education institute on Thursday at Rajarhat.

“We need to ensure that the families who have given us their land lead a decent life. We have a responsibility towards them,” said Bhattacharjee. “Preference in admission will be given to families who have given their land for the development of the state,” added Bhattacharjee.

Speaking of Singur and Salboni, he said 300 locals have already been given skilled training so that they can work in the automobile factory. “Thousands of local people will get employment in the Jindal steel factory at Salboni,” said Bhattacharjee.

In the near future, we will see numerous steel plants, rubber factories, automobile industries coming up in the state, said Bhattacharjee while assuring the locals of innumerable jobs.

The technical institute is being jointly funded by the West Bengal Housing

Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (WBHIDCO) and the state government. About 2.5 acres of land has been allocated for the institute. WBHIDCO will sponsor the ground and first floor of the institute’s six storey building.

Subjects like paramedicine, agriculture and engineering technology will be taught at the institute. The institute has a capacity of 2000 students with hostel facilities; it will also impart vocational training.