Mamata Banerjee announces hike in grant for Durga Puja committees to Rs 1.10 Lakh this year, over Rs 500 crore to be spent from exchequer
The government also spent more than Rupees 350 crores from the exchequer to this allowance last year.
According to the state administration sources, the total number of enlisted Durga Puja committees in West Bengal is more than 45,000 and the state government will have to pay more than Rupees 500 crores for this allowance from the exchequer.
Addressing a meeting of Durga Puja organisers, Banerjee said the decision aims to support the committees in organising Bengal's biggest festival and to acknowledge their contribution to cultural and community life.
'The government stands by the people. Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration; it is a cultural festival that unites everyone. We want to ensure the organisers can manage expenses without stress,' Banerjee said.
The chief minister also announced, that like other years, Durga Puja Carnival will be held on October 5. Before that, on October 2, 3 and 4, immersion of the Durga idol should be completed.
Last year, the Mamata Banerjee government gave Rupees 85,000 to each Puja committee and the amount was increased from 75,000 to 85,000.
'This year also, we got nothing in the budget (Central Budget). We are a poor state. However, we have decided to increase the allowance to 85 thousand. Next year will make it one lakh,' the chief minister said.
However, this year she increased the allowance by Rupees 10,000 more, a cost of Rupees 50 crore more for the exchequer.
The Chief Minister on Thursday also announced that like other years, this year also the Puja committees will have to pay nothing for any licenses including for a fire license. Last year, the puja committees got 75 per cent discount on electricity bill.
This year, CM Banerjee said, electricity will be discounted to 80 per cent.
A senior official of the Finance Department said, 'This is the last Durga Puja before the scheduled Assembly election in 2026. So, the ruling party wanted to attract Puja committees, to give them a hike of 25,000 from last year.'
The allowance was Rupees 50,000 in 2021, which increased by Rupees 10,000 each in 2022 and 2023.
Last year in 2024, it increased Rupees 15,000 and this year it increased Rupees 25,000.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the hardships faced by Bengali-speaking individuals in various states across the country. '…Some of our people facing deadly torture in different states for speaking Bengali. My request to all Puja committees is that they should provide new garments to those who faced atrocities in different states for speaking in Bengali,' CM Banerjee said.
Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal.
Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
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