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This is an archive article published on February 9, 2024
DBT, DA hike in Bengal Budget, Rs 3.6 lakh crore outlay
Lakhsmir Bhandar incentive hiked, new welfare scheme for fishermen
Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya with CM Mamata Banerjee before presenting the Budget on Thursday. (Express Photo)
Raining sops, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of West Bengal on Thursday hiked the Dearness Allowance (DA) by another 4 per cent for the second time in two months, increased incentives of Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) schemes such as Lakshmir Bhandar – a financial assistance scheme for women – and launched targeted welfare schemes.
After state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya tabled the Rs 3.6 lakh crore Budget outlay for 2024-25 fiscal year in the Assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it a “wonderful Budget” for every section of the society.
“I was telling everyone that you will be shocked after seeing the Budget. So, it happened. If you want to do something, you have to have the thinking power,” Banerjee said.
Conceding the state government’s financial constraints, the CM said: “In our limited ability, we did everything possible for every sector of the society.”
“What this budget has done has never been done in the country by anyone. We will make our name in the Guinness Book Of World Records,” she added.
In her Budget speech, Bhattacharya also announced the launch of a new scheme — Karmasree — under which the state government will ensure at least 50 days of work to each job cardholder. The scheme, the Finance Minister said, would commence from May 2024.
The new scheme has been announced when the state government has been pressing for the release of pending Central funds, including Rs 6,900 crore for MGNREGA – the rural employment scheme. For over two years, the Centre has withheld the payment of wages under the MGNREGA in the state, citing siphoning of funds and fake job cards.
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While no budgetary allocation has been made for Karmasree scheme, the state Budget has allocated Rs 3,700 crore for the pending wages of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers. Last month, the Chief Minister announced to start giving the pending wages to these MGNREGA workers from February 21.
On Thursday, the chief minister said that her government will wait till April for the Centre to pay the pending funds under PM Awas Yojana. “If we don’t get out dues, we will pay money to 11 lakh PMAY beneficiaries from May 1… The application for 11 lakh houses has already come. Another three-four lakh proposals came to the ‘Direct to Chief Minister project,” the chief minister said.
The state government also announced the launch of Samudra Sathi Scheme for fishermen of Purba Medinpur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts who will get Rs 5,000 for two months during the “lean season”.
Similar schemes have been announced for artisans, youths, and migrant workers.
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“We have limitations, but I received requests from several stakeholders to increase the DA for government employees. We said we will give the dues slowly. In January we gave 4 per cent DA. In this budget, we gave another 4 per cent DA hike. I think our employees will be happy after this increase,” the Finance Minister said, referring to the protests by a section of state government who are demanding DA at par with the central government employees.
Later at a press conference, Chief Minister Banerjee chided the Opposition BJP for disrupting the Finance Minister’s speech, saying, “They are only busy doing bad things and divisive politics. The Opposition can have a discussion. But disrupting the House is not acceptable. People have a right to know the work we are doing for them. We condemn such dirty politics. This is the Assembly, not BJP’s party office. They are opposed to the state. They are anti-Bangla. They don’t want the good of the state.”
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