Siliguri, 01st February: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the annual Uttarbanga Utsav (North Bengal festival) at Baghajatin Park in Siliguri.
Every year eminent persons excelling in different spheres hailing from north Bengal are conferred the Banga Ratna Award in Uttarbanga Utsav. This year too, after the inauguration of the festival, the Chief Minister presented the Banga Ratna Award to 9 distinguished people of the region, including 2 from Darjeeling district.
Siliguri’s prominent doctor Shekhar Chakraborty and social activist Rangu Sauriya from Panighata were presented with the Banga Ratna Award. Apart from giving the award, the Chief Minister also inaugurated several projects in the state including ‘Jai Setu’ on the Teesta River, a fire station at Nishiganj in Cooch Behar.
During the event, Mamata Banerjee also announced to build houses for the tea workers under the Chaa Sundari Scheme. The scheme has been launched by the government of West Bengal so that they can provide houses to the tea workers who are situated in the north Bengal area of West Bengal State. The main objective of the scheme is to provide benefits to all of the tea labourers.