District exercise for Kalimpong started with initiative of CII and District administration

KalimNews, Kalimpong 20 August 2016: Kalimpong is going to be a district very soon and it needs various preparation for functioning as a full fledged district and for the first time Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in association with District Administration has done a pioneering job in this field.

Entrepreneurs, stake holders, intellectuals and political leaders from all parts of Kalimpong and district and state level technical experts and officials were present in the seminar held at Sinclairs hotel Kalimpong.

CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and association of Indian businesses which works to create an environment conducive to the growth of industry in the country.

CII works closely with Government on policy issues, interfacing with thought leaders, and enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and business opportunities for industry through a range of specialized services and strategic global linkages.

CII North Bengal and Sikkim in association with District Administration Darjeeling, Government of West Bengal organised the Seminar Kalimpong Prospects & Potential – Way Forward to make sustainable development to this new district Kalimpong.

Harka Bdr Chhetri Vice-Chairman of North Bengal development Council, citing the importance of various plants available in Kalimpong for medicinal and other purposes stated that Kalimpong has the potentiality to survive and cater the need of its inhabitants for survival and development. He emphasised the importance of sericulture that thrives well in Kalimpong as it has the most appropriate climatic and other conditions other than any other parts of country. Considering this he demanded that a PGDS course in sericulture be started by the state government.

Encouraging the popular homestay of the hills he called upon the homestay owners to start a network for homestay and rural eco-tourism which has a bright future.

He also emphasised that the prime need of connectivity in the hills is not satisfactory as such it is to be improved by the government.

He stated that an ITI College will be established in Deolo and these are the developments on its way for a new district.

Sarita Rai, MLA Kalimpong while addressing the seminar said that economy of Kalimpong can be increased if local products be produced and marketed in an organised way and if new tourist centres like Jalepla Pass be opened.

She stressed that development should be sustainable, conserving cultural heritage and without causing depletion of natural resources and without inviting any natural disasters. Higher educational institutions be established, she added.

In the presidentship of Laxmi Subba Kaushal, Head of CII North Bengal and Sikkim the seminar focused on how Kalimpong can be developed as a district. In the inaugural session hosted by Subir Chaki Past Chairman of CII State Council and Director McNaily Sayaji Engineering Ltd., Anurag Srivastava DM Darjeeling highlighted the objective of the seminar.

Amitava Sain Director Consulting PWC, Vijay Bharati Director of State Department of Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME), Rajashri Dasgupta of state Department of technical education and training along with Rajiv Lochan of CII were present in the seminar.

Anmol Prasad senior Advocate a panelist of the plenary session stated that as of now, development of Kalimpong is stagnant with the same connecting roads, drinking and sewage system of the British period which needs modification. It needs extra attention of the government, he emphasised.

Lyangsong Tamsang Chairman of the MLDB said that for sustainable development intellectual and mental development is necessary otherwise the development will not last long. Kalimpong should be Tax free as Sikkim is, he added.

Vijay Bharati, Director MSME, proposed that Kalimpong Area Development Planning Committee be formed for the future course of action and areas be selected for specific purposes. He stressed that mushroom, strawberry, gerbera farming/ cultivation can be started with its proper training. Shakuntala Ghosh Chairperson IGBC and architect another panelist said that as Kalimpong stands in the fragile mountain, development tasks should be undertaken in a proper way, all structures should be constructed as per the requirements and indiscriminate use of land be discouraged. quarrying and road construction also should be well planned.

A Srivastava, DM of Darjeeling trying to address the problems and questions raised by the panelists and participants stated that while developing Kalimpong it always should be compared to Sikkim and Darjeeling and Do's and Dont's be determined. To solve some problems use of plastic be restricted, while water harvesting and use of solar energy be encouraged, he added.

Amit P Javalgi, SP Darjeeling interacting to the queries stated that all problems should be brought to the notice of the government in an organised manner by local representatives and organisations. A database be setup by collecting names and other details of all stakeholders and entrepreneurs and all government norms and regulations be followed in construction of buildings, in adventure sports like river rafting and paragliding and vehicular restriction, Javalgi added.

Naresh Agarwal Past Chairman CII during plenary session stated that problems and proposals should be itemised from lower to higher level. Before blaming the administration and government we should be aware of what government is doing or providing for the public welfare, he added.

Amitava Sain, Director Consulting PWC said that while concentrating regarding the development of Kalimpong it should not be done at the cost of its beauty. Technical education, additional agricultural courses and studies like mountain studies should be introduced in colleges and new institutions should be established. He also said that there may be prospects in cross border trades as Kalimpong lies bordering to Bhutan and state of Sikkim beyond which is China.

Existing rural, tribal and other handicrafts and cottage industries may be revived, and modified into marketable products and new may be established keeping the traditional uniqueness. Encouragement may be made to entrepreneurs, citizen services like health utility services may be introduced, he added.

He said, more tourist spots be identified and existing ones may be beautified, new tourism sectors be started like adventurous tourism for trekking, hiking, camping, cycling, water sports, parks; religious tourism, homestay.

From agri-horti-based cultivation, supply and manufacturing of products can be done with the help of government and for these, infrastructure be made, he added. A detailed planning for urban and rural areas be separately done and improvement of existing system and structure is also necessary, Sain added.

Unorganised production should be organised, manufacturing of ginger, orange, large cardamom products be started, fing, dairy products like cheese, lollypops, herbal medicines may also be produced in more productive ways.

Marketing facility and new avenues and policy implementation committee be constituted, he further said.

Rajarshi Dasgupta of Department of Technical education and training stated that an ITI centre is being established at Gorubathan and another polytechnic college in Kalimpong will be established. Government has proposed to establish one such centres in each sub division. Government has already started skill training centres in which training are provided in different skills. For starting any business training is necessary and government will provide financial assistance and subsidies only to the trained persons, Dasgupta added.

In the plenary session moderated by Subir Chaki past Chairman of CII, Anmol Prasad, senior advocate, Anurag Srivastava DM of Darjeeling, Amit P Javalgi, SP Darjeeling, Barun Kumar Ray, Divisional Commissioner and Secretary Department of North Bengal Development, Lyangsong Tamsang Chairman MLDB, Sutanu Ghosh, Environmentalist, Joy Basu, Asst Director of Apollo Hospital participated.

In the second plenary session moderated by Kalyan Kar Co founder and managing director, Skill development, Vijay Bharati Director MSME, Mrityunjay Bandhopadhyay, Jt. Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of WB Khadi Village Industries Board, Naresh agarwal Past Chairman CII, Raj Basu, CII and Director Tourism, A Javalgi SP Darjeeling, A Srivastava DM and MS Foning horticulturist participated.