To wrongfoot Trinamool,Deb doles out package for Rajarhat farmers

The HIDCO,he said,will approach its bank and ask them to lend money to the farmers’ cooperatives and syndicates. “There are 56 cooperatives with 2,965 members and 218 syndicates with 4,382 members in Rajarhat,mostly formed by the displaced farmers,” he said. “In case the bank does not lend money to cooperatives for business,we will start transactions with other banks.”

Two new markers will come up in Rajarhat and seventy per cent shops will be awarded to the farmers. Ten buses will ply in the area and the cooperatives will run this. He added that 100 boys and girls will be given jobs as traffic police and security staff in Rajarhat and the salary will be given by HIDCO.

For workers in unorganised sector,the state will have a provident fund scheme,where for the first five years,money will be deposited by HIDCO. He also promised three emporium for the women working in self help groups.

The government,he said,has always consulted representatives of different political parties including the Trinamool Congress.

“In a democracy,there are always meetings and demonstrations,” he said. “Demonstrations are held in front of the Writers’ Building every day and there is no issue if there is a demonstration in front of HIDCO.”

The Trinamool has decided to gherao HIDCO on December 9 and its chief Mamata Banerjee has demanded that ten per cent of the land in Rajarhat be returned to farmers.

“There are various issues you can do politics on,” Deb said. “A big city will come up here where 10 lakh people will stay and about 2 lakh people will work in the IT companies. When they (the Trinamool) come on December 9 ,I will ask them why they are raising this issue after 15 years and will try to answer their questions.”