2018-19
Some salient features of our activities of the year 2018-19 of Raniganj Chamber of Commerce are given below:
INDUSTRY
This year your chamber put more stress in industry, startups and MSME & IT. So as to give maximum stress to development of industry, MSME, IT and to promote startups.
i) Received details submitted queries related to MSME by SWAS – service with a smile from Deputy Director MSME (ANC) DIC, PaschimBardhaman.
ii) Written to Smt. VandanaYadav, IAS, W.B.D.C.L. regarding allotment of barren land for industries on this area.
iii) Wrote to MD, Webel for joint workshop for IT startups
iv) President and Secretary and members attend the Synergy Conclave – 2018 on 20th -21st August 2018 at Kolkata.
v) Attended Finance Conclave on 16.08.2018 at MMC, Durgapur at the invitation of Dy. Director MSME (ANC) and monthly meeting of Intra departmental meeting at Durgapur on 16.08.2018
vi) Attended BNCCI conclave as awareness programe on upcoming MSME conclave on 09.08.2018 and also interaction meeting at ADDA Durgapur.
vii) A team from the chamber visited ISSCO, Burnpur on 06.09.2018 first hand information on steel making.
viii) Delegation from chamber met ShriAlapanBandopadhay, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Govt. of W.B, Department of MSME & Textile on 19.09.2018 to the satisfaction of both sides.
ix) Received a favorable reply from Chief Executive Officer, ADDA, about issues raised by ShriRohitKhaitan, Chairman, Industry Development Committee Raniganj Chamber of Commerce, on 13.11.2018
x) Received guidelines on procurement Marketing Support a component of scheme of development of MSME from Government of India, Ministry of MSME on 23.10.2018
xi) Received invitation for vibrant Gujarat and Global Conclave held at Ahmadabad from 18.01.2019 to 20.01.2019. Raniganj Chamber of Commerce sent a delegation to attend same.
xii) Received invitation from All India Association of Industry, Members to attend 8th Global Economic Summit on 06-08 March 2019 at Mumbai. Your Chamber congratulated them.
xiii) President visited NASCOM office at Kolkata on 05.02.2019 and on 09.03.2019 attended Merchants’ Chamber Seminar at Durgapur.
RAILWAYS
Requested for the extension of 13511/13512 Tata-Asansol-Tata express to Durgapur in the interest of travelling public of Raniganj. By the continuous efforts of your chamber, the Howrah-New Delhi-Howrah 12301/12302 Rajdhani-express started halting at Asansol . We thanked all the patrons who helped us to obtain this privilege from 18.06.2018.
Your chamber is continuously demanding for the stoppage of 12023/12024 Patna Howrah-Patna Jansatabdhi express at Raniganj especially for the ease of travel of senior citizens and those who are infirm to Kolkata.
Another in the cap for the chamber is the haltage of 12273/12274 Howrah-New Delhi-Howrah Duranto express at Asansol. Your chamber had keep requesting and perusing many quarters to get this result.
Your chamber had requested for the conversion of some trains from weekly to daily service, in the interest of travelling public especially to destinations of Ahmadabad, Chennai and Mumbai.
In addition to haltage to Howrah-New Delhi Duronto express we made request for the stoppage of Sealdah-New Delhi Sealdah (12259/122600 Duronto express at Asansol, which we feel will materialize soon.
Your chamber had been in the fore front with the demand for linking Raniganj with Bankura, as it is a long pending need and is an absolute necessity of the citizens.
ROAD
Requested AMC for repairing of approach road at Kalipahari from Raniganj side to Asansol. Also for resurfacing of all bye lanes of Raniganj. The demand for repairs or completion of pending repairs in Raniganj town was made persistently with AMC so that citizens can move / drive safely.
Complained to Executive Engineer, NHAI, regarding water logging of NH-2 at Dhadka crossing.
The issue of construction and early completion of Kharagpur-Moregram stretch of NH-60 of high priority for the chamber. Hence we continuously monitored the situation. Requested for early sanction of money to concern for completion of the job. Also an appeal was made for early completion of same to all concerned authorities including the ministry.
Many speed breakers of rubber / plastic were set up by AMC on NSB Road to check speedy vehicles. But overloaded trucks damaged and obliterated these breakers. In their place now we find ditches and protruding steel bolts. Your chamber requested AMC to fill up and smoothen these for comfortable and safe driving by citizens.
Your chamber continuously demanded for the stoppage of long distance buses at Punjabi More, at safer place i.e., on service lane below flyover.
TAXATION
RCCdelegation met and submitted a memorandum to ShriPiyushGoel on 09.07.2018 regarding GST Act and Income Tax Act.
Your chamber had organized a seminar on GST on 28.07.2018 with Mr. Khalid Aijaj Anwar, Sr. Joint Commissioner of GST and member and guests attended and the interactive meeting was very successful. Mr. S.S. AlamRetd. Spl. Commissioner Commercial, ShriSurender Kr. Meena IAS, Spl. Commissioner GST also participated.
RCC made an appeal to commissioner States Tax, W.B. for extension of time for the Composition scheme migrated to regular scheme.
Represented West Bengal Sponge Iron manufacturer’s Association Kolkata regarding coal char which is in grey area of GST, so that clarification might be available. Your chamber protested against the implementation of W.B. Agri. Produce Marketing Regulation Act 1972.
A seminar was held at RCC premises on present schemes launched under W.B. Taxation law (amended) Aet 2018. ShriBhabhadra Das, Sr. Joint Commissioner, Asansol circle and ShriSoumitraGiri, Joint Commissioner, AsansolCharge addressed the audience. This was for SOD (Settlement of disputes on previous sales tax / VAT Tax on 19.03.2019 under the able guidance of Chairman Taxation Committee Shri A.K. Saraff.
An outreach programme was held at our premises about recent changes in Income Tax on 04.10.2018 with Shri A.A. Khalco, The Principal Commissioner, Income Tax as Chief Guest. The guests and members appreciated the programme much.
CIVIC AMENITIES
RCC always maintained excellent relations with AMC authorities and staff. Requests for better amenities were made time to time. Chamber always intervened and appealed for reduction of holding Tax and license fees for trade and agro trade with the concerned authorities. Your chamber protested against the abrupt increase in Trade license fees and Holding Taxes by AMC. Camp for collection of taxes for Borough –II was held for 5 days and 30% of taxes of Borough – II was collected during this camp.
Chamber requested for dedicated parking lots in the town for two and four wheeler, so that vehicular movements in congested roads could be reduced.
LAW AND ORDER
Chamber had complained with Raniganj PS about the disorderly operation of Mini buses in Raniganj mainly on NSB Road.
Attended the MahabirJhanda festival at Robin Sen stadium on 25.10.2018 at the invitation of Raniganj PS.
Invited ShriAlokMitra, ACP (Central), Asansol for an interactive meeting with members and guests at RCC on 16.11.2018.
Received permission to hold SampurnaKrantiVyaparSwabhimanYatra to oppose FDI in retail from 18.11.2018 from OIC, Raniganj P.S. and thanked him for the co-operation.
A delegation from the chamber visited and had discussion with Ms.Puspa DCP, Traffic (HQ) ADPC, regarding various issues on 27.12.2018.
We welcomed new OIC, Punjabi More, Police, O.P., ShriSoumenBandopadhay on his assuming charge.
Chamber bid farewell to O/C Raniganj, ShriSubrataGhosh on his relinquishing charge on 06.02.2019 and also to Mr.MainulHaqu of O/C, of Punjabi More IC.
BANKING
Complaint against Oriental Bank of Commerce about delay in opening of account was taken up on 26.05.2018.
Similarly complaint about inordinate delay in clearing of cheques at SBI, Murgasol was pointed out to the bank on 26.05.2018.
Had an interactive meeting with the Head Manager of SBI, Raniganj Branch on 21.07.2018.
The issue of non-clearing of post office cheques was taken up with SBI as many members had bad experience of same.
Non receipt of subsidy money on PMEGP Loan was taken up with Oriental Bank of Commerce. Received invitation from Raniganj Co-Operative Bank Ltd. on the event of inauguration of renovated statue of NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose on 16.08.2018 and attended same.
SBI informed the chamber on 12.03.2019 about the closure of currency chest of Raniganj Branch and merging same with Durgapur Branch currency chest. Your chamber immediately protested against this withdrawal of this had earned facility to all concerned in RBI.
Complained to Regional Office of Syndicate Bank about the poor service of their Raniganj Branch. Similar letter was written to Head Office of bank also. Reply from Regional Office, Head Office and Branch Office were received promising better service in future.
ELECTRICITY
Your chamber had taken up the issue of overbilling or incorrect billing with Station Manager and Divisional Engineer most of the time and with good results.
An interactive meeting with Asansol Division of W.B.S.E.D.C.L. attended also by Regional Engineer, Burdwan was held on 05.06.2018 at the premises of the Division and your chamber was adequately represented.
A letter was written to W.B.S.E.D.C.L. for payment of interest on security deposit made by consumers, which remains unpaid for years.
An interative meeting with Divisional Engineer and Asstt. Engineer of W.B.S.E.D.C.L. was held on 11.10.2018 at our chamber with was very successful.
POST
Your chamber had raised issues of poor customer service and of harassment to citizens. Delay in payment of matured NSC, delay in issue of duplicate certificate ,non delivery of speed post article sent from Raniganj , non delivery of periodicals at Raniganjetc at some of the most observed deficient services.
RCC had objected to the shifting of RMS sorting office from Asansol to Burdwan. We can only hope that the situation may improve.
TELEPHONE /CELL PHONE
Due to overcrowding of limited channels / towers, cell phone services is affected badly with increased call drops. In addition due to shortage of towers, trading community is suffering on account to non-operable / delayed service of POS Machine.
Similarly many times, banks and ATMS are affected by poor internet services.
Your chamber has contacted, complained and discussed with concerned authorities for rectification of defects and redressal of complaints, but the improvement is less than the desired. G.M. , BSNL and other officers were felicitated on meeting at RCC on 12.12.2018.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
As is the practice of holding a camp weights and measuring, legal metrology, Department of Govt. of West Bengal, at the premises of RCC. This year also a camp was held from 20th to 27th February 2019 and the service was well received by trading community.
LABOUR RELATION
RCC always maintained excellent and cordial relations with MutiaMazdoor Union of Raniganj. Your chamber acted as a center for processing and expediting various agreement related work and wages. Disputes on labour and behaviour as always settled amicably.
Your chamber arranged for a meeting on 16.04.2018 and after through discussions, the terms of settlement was arrived at.
HEALTH SERVICES
We demanded for the up gradation and modernization of primarily health centre at Raniganj.
A medial camp was held on 07.02.2018 at our premises under the leadership of Shri B.K. Khaitan, Chairman, Health Committee and Mission hospital was the partner. A free medial camp was held very successfully on 29.11.2018 jointly with Health World, Raniganj Jewellery Association, Marwari YuvaManch, Vivekananda Seva Kendra and GayatriParivar.
On 19.01.2019, a Blood Donation Camp jointly with Marwari MahilaSamity and Raniganj Cloth Merchants Association was held.
A joint programme on health talk on Oncology with HCG EKO, Kolkata was held and ShriDiyenduBhakat was the Chief Guest of this programme on 09.02.2019.
AGRI MARKETING
A delegation from your chamber had a meeting with ShriTapanDas Gupta at Kolkata on 25.09.2.018 to disuses about Agri Marketing and related problems.
SHOPS & ESTABLISHMENT
Shops and establishment camp was arranged with the help of Dy. Comm. of labour. Awareness camp for Mudra and PMEGP held on 18.07.2018.
AIRPORT SERVICES
One new field of our activities is to promote Andal Airport development and starting of air services. Till now we are partially successful with service to New Delhi and later to Chennai and Siliguri. Also brought to their notice about poor baggage handling services and parking problems.
GENERAL
RCC has kept open excellent channels of communication with Central Government, State Government, quasi Government, Administration, civic Bodies, NGOs, and Media at all times. This is the very reason for the success of your chamber. RCC from its experiences had learned that, business and social service must go hand in hand. So that, every citizen can be reached some way or other.
Your chamber wish to express profound gratitude to following The Mayor, AMC, ShriJitendraJitendraTiwari, also include ShriMoloyGhatak, Chairperson, Borough –II, Smt. SangitaSarda, Sabhapati of Raniganj and M.P. and Minister at centerShri Babul Supriyo for their unstinted support and able guidance at all times.