MILAN MELA

16^th December,05 to 1^st January,06

MILAN MELA

16^th December,05 to 1^st January,06

West Bengal Minorities Development & Finance Corporation is a Corporation under Govt. of West Bengal and is engaged in providing soft loans for economic activities to the weaker sections of the minorities. WBMDFC is also working for the development of the minorities (Muslims, Christians, Sikhs Buddhists & Parsis) by organizing  vocational training, awareness programmes etc.

West Bengal Minorities Development & Finance Corporation organized a trade fair named “Milan Mela” from 16^th Dec,05 to 1^st Jan,06 this year like previous years for providing marketing support to small entrepreneurs, businessmen and beneficiaries under its various self-employment schemes. Various Govt. and Private organizations and beneficiaries from West Bengal and other States participated in this fair.

Sri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal inaugurated the fair at 5.30 p.m. on 16^th Dec,05. Qari Md. Mian Mazhari, Chairman, NMDFC was the  Chief Guest. Jb. Md. Salim, M.P and Chairman of this Corporation presided over the function. Jb. M.J. Akbar, Noted Journalist and Sri K. Sathiavasan,IAS, Secretary, Minorities’ Dev & Welfare Department were also present.

A documentary named “ Uttaran” highlighting the activities and achievements of WBMDFC was released by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in the inaugural function.

Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Hon’ble Chief Minister in this inaugural speech said that among minorities in the State, Muslims are most economically backward and there is urgent need for their upliftment. “Reservation cannot be made for them as the constitution does not allow it. States like Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh faced legal roadblocks when they tried to give reservation for Muslims” he said. He expressed the commitment of the State Government to  alleviate the backwardness of Muslims and said that his Govt. is exploring alternative Mechanisms  reservation.

He expressed his anguish over abysmal representation of Muslim in Govt. jobs which is  only  around 3% where Muslim constitute  26% of the population of the State. The Govt. is taking several steps to increase their representation in Govt jobs. He reiterated that there is need for more representation of Muslims in jobs in Govt. as well as Pvt. Sectors.

“Muslim faced acute housing problem especially those living in and around Kolkata. Govt. has tried to alleviate this problem by providing flats to minorities in New Town, Rajarhat”, said the Chief Minister.  He promised that  housing will be provided to Muslims in upcoming housing projects in West Howrah and Dankuni.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister once again stated that the Madrasah Education System should be modernize. Those pursuing study under this system will be left behind if they do not study modern subjects alongside religious subjects. He said that Government is dedicated to alleviate the Educational backwardness of Muslims.

He announced the restarting of Scholarship under Mohsin Fund  Fixed Endowment Trust through WBMDFC.

He lauded the activities of WBMDFC and said that under the Chairmanship of Jb. Md. Salim, MP, the Corporation has set example in implementation of Self Employment Schemes of the Govt.

He urged the youth belonging to minority communities to set up enterprises of their own since amendment to the Constitution is a long drawn process.

On the inaugural day following disbursements were made:

1)                 Refinance:  63 beneficiaries who were able to establish their business through loan from the WBMDFC and repaid their earlier loans in time.

2)                 Cluster loan to some beneficiaries of Park Circus Cluster.

3)                 Loan under its Micro Credit Scheme to SHIS,  Resource Dev. Centre, Human Dev. Centre

4)                 Possession Certificate of Flats under cost optimized Housing Scheme for Economic Weaker Sections of WBHIDCO at Newtown, Rajarhat to four candidates.

5)                 Education Loan to few candidates of Medical & Engineering courses.

6)                 Stipends to some meritorious Students.

Twenty sex beneficiaries were also felicitated for their successful enterprises and presented with mementoes.

As usual built-up stalls were provided to the beneficiaries to enable them to sale their products in the Mela. This provided them with an opportunity to intermingle with the mainstream. This helped in building confidence among these small businessmen belonging to weaker section of the minorities.

As 2005 was declared as “International Year of Micro Credit” the theme of this years Milan Mela  was “Micro Credit”. A seminar on “Role of Microfinance in Nation Building” was organized on 25^th Dec,2005 and stalls were provided to NGOs engaged in Microfinance to create awareness about micro finance.

Apart from main marketing activity, daily cultural programme & seminar etc. on the open stage, daily free Health Check-up & various other programmes were held.

Daily General Health Check-up programme for the benefit of poor people residing in bustee areas of Kolkata and Howrah was organized from 11^th December,05 in collaboration with Southern Health Improvement Society (SHIS). This programme continued till 25^th December, 2005.

FREE HEALTH CHECK-UP PROGRAMMES

IN BUSTEE AREAS OF KOLKATA

Daily General Health Check-up programme and special Health Check-up programme at Milan Mela venue were conducted with the help of SHIS, Netra Sevasram and some eminent doctors.

FREE SPECIAL HEALTH FACILITIES & PROGRAMMES

AVAILABLE IN MILAN MELA 2005-06

HEALTH check-up with the involvement of  specialist Doctors under different disciplines
Date	Services	Time
16.12.05	Dr. Shakil Akhter General Surgery	3 to 5 p.m.
17.12.05	Blood grouping by Calcutta Investigating Centre	3 to 5 p.m.
18.12.05	Dr.S.A.Ferozie Eye check-up	3 to 5 p.m.
19.12.05	Health Awareness Camp with the involvement of renowned Doctors	3 to 5 p.m.
20.12.05	Dr. Shakil Akhter General Surgery	3 to 5 p.m.
21.12.05	Dr. Shakil Akhter General Surgery	3 to 5 p.m.
22.12.05	Blood Donation Camp	10 a.m.
23.12.05	Dr. Shakil Akhter General Surgery	3 to 5 p.m.
24.12.05	Blood grouping by Calcutta Investigating Centre	3 to 5 p.m.
25.12.05	Dr.S.A.Ferozie Eye check-up	3 to 5 p.m.
26.12.05	Guru Tegbahadur Medical Service Centre	3 to 5 p.m.
27.12.05	Guru Tegbahadur Medical Service Centre	3 to 5 p.m.
28.12.05	Guru Tegbahadur Medical Service Centre