Kant calls for improved work culture in West Bengal

CALCUTTA, DECEMBER 30: Vice-President Krishna Kant has called for a commitment to work culture and a new agenda for industrial development...

CALCUTTA, DECEMBER 30: Vice-President Krishna Kant has called for a commitment to work culture and a new agenda for industrial development in West Bengal to create an ambience of hope’, born of economic growth, in the state.

“Admittedly (Calcutta) is a city of joy. It is also a burgeoning city of tears. We have to wipe out the tears of the poor in the state. Our intention should be to create an ambience of hope born of economic growth,” the vice-president said while inaugurating the Biswa Banga Sammelan Millennium Festival here on Wednesday.

The enabling conditions for economic growth would be commitment to work culture, a new agenda for industrial development and to be in active touch with the global forces of growth, he said.

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Recalling the contributions of the Rajaram Mohun Roy, Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Rabindranath Tagore and Rishi Aurobindo, the vice-president observed that it had been relatively easy for the people of Bengal, to be in communion with the world at large and bring in human and material resources from differnt parts of the globe.

“Things have changed enormously since Independence and the partition of the country. Bengal, like Punjab had suffered partition. The life of the peoples of these two states underwent deep trauma and untold sufferings. Steeled by their tragic experience, Bengalis relaised that they have to rebuild the state.

Stating that the then chief minister B C Roy took the lead in building the state in the post-partition era through the spread of education and land reforms, Krishna Kant said “the lead taken by Roy is now under the able leadership of the veteran leader and statesman Jyoti Basu.”

Pointing out that the new generation of Bengalis, enriched by their experience overseas, were now ready to share their resources and expertise with fellow countrymen, he quoted Bengali poet Jibanananda Das and hoped that Calcutta would one day become a vibrant beauty’ through their contribution.

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“On the eve of the new millennium, we must do everything possible to make this state an attractive destination for different types of people … For this purpose good word and goodwill are not enough… Our initial welcome should be followed up by the right climate of mutual trust based on performance. This is the message of the Biswa Banga Sammelan,” he said.

Earlier, the vice-president inaugurated the sammelan by lighting and lamp and released the commemorative volume.

Others who spoke on the occasion included West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, Justice Shyamal Sen of the Calcutta High Court, Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty and CPI(M) MP Somnath Chatterjee.