A hub of sweets from different parts of Bengal will be set up on a plot opposite Eco Park in New Town, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday.
“Mishtanna”, named by Mamata will come up on a 20-cottah plot that the government will offer to sweet makers to promote Bengal’s mishti.
“We have already built a Mishti Hub in Eco Park. I’ll give you another one....I’ll give you 20-cottah (land) opposite Mishti Hub. I’ll ask Bobby (Firhad Hakim) to bring up this matter in the next cabinet meeting,” Mamata said to loud applause from sweetmeat makers.
She was addressing a meeting of members of the Paschimbanga Mishtanna Byabsayee Samity where several ministers were present.
“I’m naming the hub. It will be Mishtanna, in sync with Nabanna,” Mamata said.
The MSME department has decided to set up a Mishti Hub in the city in association with Mishti Udyog, a body of sweetmeat makers across Kolkata and the districts.
This will be the second hub in the city after the one near Eco Park, which was inaugurated in 2018
Spread over two floors, the hub will come up at one end of the Nonapukur tram depot on AJC Bose Road.
“It will be solely run by us,” said Dhiman Das, president of Mishti Udyog and director of KC Das.
Mamata said sweetmeat manufacturers struggling to organise funds for their business could now apply for a scheme titled Bhobishyot (future), under which the state government will offer up to Rs 5 lakh. “The scheme will be available at the Duare Sarkar camps that will continue from September 1 to 18.”
A section of mishti manufacturers welcomed the chief minister’s decision.