Latest news with #APAS
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM asks mins to supervise ‘Amader Para' camps to solve local issues
Kolkata: With the footfall of Amader Para Amader Samadhan (APAS) crossing 25 lakh on Monday, at 4,654 camps held so far, chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked ministers to supervise the event in their respective districts and address local grievances. During the cabinet meeting on Monday, the CM told the ministers to coordinate with the DMs to overcome bureaucratic delays in solving small issues like putting up street lights or repairing a tap. The CM also chalked out plans so that the APAS camps cover over 80,000 booths in the state ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. The APAS camps started on Aug 2 and will continue till Nov 3. As many as 28,529 camps are scheduled to take place across the state. On Monday, 739 APAS camps were held, with a footfall of 4.3 lakh. The CM allocated Rs 8,000 crore for the APAS programme, with Rs10 lakh to be spent for each booth. She set up a task force headed by chief secretary Manoj Pant to monitor the programme. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata People are also attending the camps to get the benefits of Duare Sarkar, as they can apply for social welfare schemes of the state govt. The state cabinet also approved the creation of 627 posts, which included 122 posts in the health department. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
1.6 lakh at Bengal govt's ‘Amader Para' camps with local problems on launch day
KOLKATA: Bengal govt's people-centric initiative 'Amader Para Amader Samadhan' (APAS) recorded 1.6 lakh footfall across 632 camps on the day of its launch on Saturday. The scheme, announced by CM Mamata Banerjee last month, is aimed at solving neighbourhood problems from 80,000 local-level booths. With a fund allotment of Rs 8,000 crore, or Rs 10 lakh per booth, the two-month-long programme will aim at finding local quick-fix solutions to problems such as broken water pumps, blocked drains and out-of-order electric posts. In Kolkata, APAS booths were set up in wards 10, 13, 48 and 70 on Saturday. Mayor Firhad Hakim was present at Bhowanipore's ward 70, which is part of the CM's constituency, to lend an ear to people's grievances. Ashok Gupta, a resident of Bishop Lefroy Road, complained that their neighbourhood, while well-decked, had a kabadiwala shop that was an eyesore. 'Many foreigners visit the area to see the house where Satyajit Ray lived. Currently, his son Sandip Ray lives there. I plead to the administration to relocate the shop,' he said, adding that smoke from a local eatery's kitchen was also an irritant. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Shakuntala Dey, an elderly lady who was at the camp, complained that she was being harassed by goons who were trying to occupy her property. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Global Indices Are on the Move — Time to Trade! IC Markets Learn More Undo Another resident, Purabi Sen, visited the camp to apply for widow pension. 'Officials are taking note of the problems,' Hakim said. CM Banerjee posted on X that APAS was a 'unique flagship initiative aimed at institutionalising participatory governance and re-imagining grassroots service delivery through people-engagement and empowerment'. At APAS camps, local people will deliberate, identify and prioritise local-level infrastructure needs, she wrote. An official said citizens will have to register for APAS camps, where representatives will decide on allocation of funds from the Rs 10-lakh kitty. 'Problems raised by citizens will be uploaded on the APAS portal. The administration will review the decision on use of funds and finalise it. The funds can be used for construction or renovation of drains, infrastructure for water supply, arranging street lights and electrical repairs, setting up toilets and ICDS centres, minor repair of schools and classrooms, desilting of ponds, setting up of waste bins and benches in public places, building bus stop sheds, footbridges over water bodies and even community gyms,' he added. In the APAS camp of ward 13 in Ultadanga area, both local councillor Anindya Raut and MLA Supti Pandey heard grievances of people and assured help. The camp at Salt Lake CJ block was attended by Bidhhanagar mayor Krishna Chakraborty. In New Town, the fairground was used as a camp where residents highlighted issues like damaged pavements, lack of street lights and drainage issues, said Anupam Maity, member, Jyangra Hatiara II gram panchayat. In a camp at Raina I block in East Burdwan, where district management Ayesha Rani was present, the local issues ranged from supply of potable water to repair of tubewells and lack of proper drainage. In South 24-Parganas, DM Sumit Gupta attended a camp at Joynagar. Similarly Midnapore (West) DM Khursheed Ali Qadri participated in a camp at Salboni. In flood-hit Ghatal, a camp was held at Ghatal town which was attended by SDO Suman Biswas. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
India Today
03-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
West Bengal launches Rs 8,000 crore initiative to address local civic issues
The West Bengal government on Saturday launched a new outreach programme called Amader Para, Amader Samadhan (Our Neighborhood, Our Solution) to address local civic issues such as roads, drinking water, street lighting and initiative began on Saturday with 632 camps set up across the state on the first day. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that over 27,000 such camps will be held over the next 60 days, covering more than 80,000 polling this Rs 8,000 crore initiative, the state has allocated Rs 10 lakh per booth. Residents can visit their local camps with their voter ID and submit written complaints along with their name, address, ward number, booth number and mobile number. The government has committed to resolving the registered issues by November 15, following a 30 day administrative review after the camp period ends. The camps are set up to directly engage with residents, allowing them to report and prioritise local like street light installation, small road repairs, drinking water supply, renovation of water bodies, repair of schools and community halls, construction of toilets in slums and area beautification are being prioritised.'Duare Sarkar' service counters are also included in the camps to help with state-run scheme programme is being monitored by a task force led by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, with district-level teams supervising the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, one camp serves every two booths. The government has urged residents to participate and track updates at where they can also see how booth-level funds are being Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also shared a glimpse of the initiative on her social media account on its first day. While explaining the motive behind the initiative, Banerjee wrote, 'Today, on the first day of 'Amader Para Amader Samadhan' (APAS) 632 camps are being held across the State. Duare Sarkar counters have also been set up in APAS Camps.''I invite the people to visit their camps and participate in the discussions to make APAS a grand success. I also thank the concerned government officials and other stakeholders for their efforts in the smooth roll out of the campaign,' she officials will be physically present in every locality to listen to grievances, register demands, and oversee the process, which will likely span over two to the government, this initiative is designed to improve service delivery by listening to people directly and involving them in local-level planning. The effort is part of a larger push toward participatory governance in the lead-up to the 2026 Assembly elections.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#West Bengal#Mamata Banerjee
CTV News
21-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Saskatchewan producers to see changes for 2025 AgriStability program
Crops can be seen in the Yorkton area in this file photo dated July 21, 2025. (Fruzsina De Cloedt/CTV News) Big changes are coming to Saskatchewan's AgriStability program, in response international trade and weather-related concerns from producers. For the 2025 program year only, producers will see an increase from 80 per cent to 90 per cent in their compensation rates. This will translate to producers receiving 90 cents on ever dollar of eligible margin decline. Additionally, the maximum payment cap is doubling from $3 million to $6 million. Beginning in 2026, AgriStability will see adjustments to the feed inventory pricing for livestock producers. The change is aimed at ensuring program calculations properly reflect realties on the farm. The changes were announced following a meeting between federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture. 'Supporting producers with immediate changes to AgriStability increases the effectiveness of the program,' provincial Minister of Agriculture Daryl Harrison said. 'Reliable and effective business risk management programs help protect against large declines in producers' margins and are an important tool for a strong agricultural sector in Saskatchewan.' Representatives from the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan Cattle Association (SCA), the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) all shared messages in support of the changes. The changes come as trade concerns continue with the United States and China. Continued drought conditions in the southwest has led to several rural municipalities declaring states of emergency. According to the province, from 2018 to 2023, AgriStability has paid more than $645 million in benefits. The deadline to enrol in AgriStability has been extended to July 31, 2025. -More details to come…
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach review: Storytelling at its finest
I didn't play the first Death Stranding, but Death Stranding 2 : On the Beach still managed to draw me in completely. The studio has done a great job with the prologue it gave me more than enough context to understand the world, characters, and stakes, without ever feeling lost. Set eleven months after the original game, the story follows Sam Porter Bridges , now living a quiet life in the southern UCA with his adopted daughter, Lou. That peace doesn't last long, as Fragile arrives with news of her new company, Drawbridge, which has been contracted by the UCA to expand the chiral network into Mexico. What starts as a straightforward mission soon expands globally. Sam's task to activate old BRIDGES terminals in Mexico leads to the discovery of 'plate gates' transcontinental portals that now link countries, including a direct connection between Mexico and Australia. The world remains unstable, with the extinction event still ongoing. BTs have evolved, natural disasters like 'gate quakes' are becoming more frequent, and human threats from bandits to terrorists haven't disappeared either. One of the most compelling twists for me came with the revelation around APAS 4000 a sentient delivery system formed from 4,000 human souls fused with AI. Its mission to 'save' humanity by turning all people into souls was both eerie and philosophically dense, the kind of high-concept sci-fi that works really well in Kojima's universe. Then there's Higgs back from the dead with a robotic body and a new goal: triggering the 'Last Stranding,' humanity's final extinction. His plan hinges on a mysterious young woman named Tomorrow, whom Sam rescues from the realm of the dead. As Sam, Fragile, and the crew of the DHV Magellan set out to connect Australia to the network and stop Higgs and APAS, the story really takes off. I particularly enjoyed how the game handles its revelations from Fragile's condition to emotional moments tied to Sam's past with Lucy and Neil. Despite not knowing the full backstory, those scenes still landed with weight and emotion. By the time Sam defeats Higgs and averts the Last Stranding, the sense of sacrifice and scale feels earned. Even for someone new to the world of Death Stranding, I found the narrative engaging, layered, and surprisingly accessible and the twists kept me hooked throughout. Game Play Review Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is my first experience with the series and honestly, I get the fandom now. Despite not having played the original, the game did a solid job easing me into its mechanics and world. What started off as curiosity quickly turned into genuine appreciation for its bold approach to gameplay, storytelling, and atmosphere. In fact, after finishing this, I'm now planning to go back and play the first one. The core of Death Stranding 2 still revolves around traversal and connection but it's far more layered and refined than I expected. As Sam Porter Bridges, you trek across beautifully rendered, often hostile landscapes spanning regions like Mexico and Australia. The visual detail powered by the Decima engine is breathtaking, but it's also functional; terrain, weather, and hazards like Timefall (rain that accelerates aging) constantly shape how you move and plan, making nature itself a formidable part of the experience. What surprised me most was how much the game has evolved in terms of combat and player agency. From what I've read, the first game had fairly basic combat. Here, you're given the flexibility to approach encounters your wa, whether through stealth, full-blown action, or avoiding conflict entirely. A new skill tree supports these choices, and the expanded arsenal, smarter enemy design, and quality-of-life features like a holster slot make combat feel smoother and more strategic. Traversal has also been thoughtfully upgraded. New vehicles like the Tri-Cruiser and a buildable monorail system make long-distance travel more efficient, especially when transporting heavy cargo. And the social strand system, where players can leave behind structures that show up in others' games really stood out to me. It's one of the most creative multiplayer systems I've seen, subtly reinforcing the game's central theme of connection without ever breaking immersion. Even the smaller improvements like faster cargo management and optional exposition show that the developers have listened to player feedback. The pacing remains deliberate, and the delivery-focused gameplay loop won't be for everyone, but I found myself leaning into its meditative rhythm and surprisingly emotional moments. Death Stranding 2 isn't just a sequel for me; it was an entry point into a world I now want to explore more of. The story, mechanics, and sense of scale all clicked in a way I didn't expect. And if this is what Kojima's vision looks like, I'm genuinely excited to see where it all began. Verdict This game is indeed a love letter for players who are enthusiastic about open world games. If you are not interested in the world of the game, I highly suggest checking it out for this aspect itself. We are certain even if you enter the game from this perspective you will stay back for the story as well.
