Buddha woos villagers who lost land

Express News Service Posted: Jun 20, 2008 at 0244 hrs
Kolkata, June 19 After the panchayat poll debacle, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has softened his tone on the land acquisition policy which has costed him dearly. Bhattacharjee was

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.

“In 2007, the amount of investments that the state has seen is remarkable. But for industries we need skilled labour or else, people from other states will make use of the opportunity,” said Bhattacharjee.