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India Today
an hour ago
- Politics
- India Today
Will Mamata's new people's governance plan translate into poll advantage?
The West Bengal government, in a bold and politically calculated stride towards what is being lauded as participatory governance, has unveiled a grassroots initiative that not only puts citizens at the centre of governance but also strategically deepens the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) engagement with its electoral minister Mamata Banerjee, on July 22, announced 'Amader Para, Amader Samadhan' (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solutions), perhaps a first-of-its-kind programme in India that empowers residents of each of Bengal's 80,000 polling booths to decide how government funds are to be spent in their respective timing and design of the initiative reveal its dual character: a governance innovation aimed at decentralisation as well as a shrewd political mechanism to rebuild and energise the TMC's booth-level machinery for the assembly elections next sources confirmed the scheme is as much about community empowerment as reconnecting with the grassroots through the delivery apparatus of the state. 'We will be able to gauge from the public response at the camps if the local MLA is popular. This is why it will be mandatory for MLAs and all public representatives to be present at these camps,' said a senior TMC functionary. In effect, the programme is poised to put local lawmakers under direct public scrutiny, potentially shaping the candidate selection process for the polls. Launching on August 2, the initiative will allocate Rs 10 lakh to every booth—an overall expenditure exceeding Rs 8,000 crore. These funds will be distributed through around 25,000 Janata Darbar camps, each covering three adjacent booths. At every camp, residents will gather, deliberate and collectively decide how to allocate the funds according to local needs. Once a consensus is reached, government officials will formally ratify the decisions, with sanctioned projects beginning within 90 her address at Nabanna, Mamata framed the move not just as a development programme but as a transformative shift in governance ethos. 'We are the first in the country to undertake such an initiative. Our officials will be present on the ground to listen to people's concerns. Each centre will cover three booths, effectively forming one unit for a particular locality. The entire process will be transparent. Since we have around 80,000 booths, it will take approximately two months to complete the entire programme,' she chief minister highlighted the scale and seriousness of the effort, saying: 'We have sanctioned a special fund for the initiative. Rs 10 lakh will be allocated for every booth. In total, the government will be spending over Rs 8,000 crore. A dedicated taskforce will be formed to monitor the programme, which will be headed by the chief secretary. Taskforces will be constituted at both the district and state levels. The police will be involved to ensure smooth coordination and implementation.'While the stated goal is to make governance transparent, decentralised and people-driven, the underlying strategy also reinforces the party's control at the booth level—a tactic that has been crucial to the TMC's electoral architecture. The camps will serve as informal audits of MLA performance and popularity. In a state where micro-level electoral management often determines the outcome in close contests, such real-time feedback mechanisms could prove politically practical terms, the Amader Para, Amader Samadhan model institutionalises local problem-solving. Citizens not only set budgetary priorities for their neighbourhoods but also an opportunity to register personal grievances at Duare Sarkar desks, operating alongside the collective planning sessions. Public representatives, including MLAs and panchayat leaders, as well as senior bureaucrats, will be physically present, blurring the line between government service delivery and political state's official social media accounts have framed the initiative in idealistic terms. A post from the Trinamool Congress described it as 'a unique, one-of-its-kind initiative that places citizens at the heart of governance. This is a citizen-centric revolution that gives you the direct power to decide and prioritise the needs that impact you the most'. Embedded in that messaging is the projection of a government that listens rather than dictates—an image Mamata is keen to promote in contrast to top-down models of governance her party associates with the political stakes of the campaign are significant. The memory of setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections still fresh, the TMC appears determined to rebuild and reinvigorate its booth-level presence before the contest in 2026. The Janata Darbar camps, by design, place every MLA under the gaze of both the public and the party leadership. If mobilisation is high and public engagement enthusiastic, it could become an indicator of how constituencies may use of state funds to facilitate such direct democracy is not without precedent globally, but Amader Para, Amader Samadhan is unparalleled in scale and ambition. It merges the logics of participatory budgeting with Bengal's own history of decentralised governance and cultural pride in grassroots intellectualism. The campaign even draws upon Rabindranath Tagore's evocative line, 'We are all kings in this kingdom of ours'—a poetic nod to the egalitarian spirit the government seeks to this ambitious push towards participatory governance translates into electoral advantage remains to be seen. But by shifting the locus of planning and spending to the booth level—and by holding MLAs publicly accountable—the TMC has thrown open a new chapter in the politics of to India Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM unveils ‘Amader Para, Amader Samadhan' for local, quick-fix solutions
1 2 Kolkata: The Bengal government on Tuesday unveiled a two-month "Amader Para, Amader Samadhan (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution)" scheme to solve neighbourhood problems across 80,000 booths in the state. The scheme, with a fund allotment of Rs 8,000 crore (Rs 10 lakh for every booth), will be launched on August 2 and will aim at finding locality-level solutions to problems like broken water pumps, short-stretch broken rural roads, out-of-order electricity poles and broken school roofs. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced the launch on Tuesday, a day after the Trinamool's massive Martyrs' Day show of strength. Bengal goes to vote for the 2026 assembly poll less than a year from now. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The Mamata Banerjee administration had launched a series of good-governance schemes — Duare Sarkar, Lakshmir Bhandar, Didi Ke Bolo and Paray Samadhan — just before the 2021 assembly poll as well. These schemes were credited with contributing significantly to the Trinamool's spectacular victory then; the party won 215 assembly seats to the BJP's 77 (down to 65 now after a series of bypoll losses over the last four years). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo "This scheme may be a small programme but its scope is vast. This is the first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. People will not need to reach out to the administration; instead, the administration will reach out to people. The aim is to listen to ground-level people's voices," Banerjee said at Nabanna on Tuesday. "Neighbourhoods often need water pumps and fixing a portion of a rural road can help villagers avoid getting their feet soiled in mud. We have extended power to many places but broken poles may be a problem somewhere. School roofs may have collapsed. This programme will tackle all such minor issues and solve them quickly," she said. The camps will start from August 2 and each camp will cater to people from three booths for one day, where administration officers will take on-the-spot decisions. "Our motto is 'small is beautiful' and we want to reach the heart of every village. All work will be done transparently through an online portal but people can submit their problems personally," Banerjee added. The initial plan was to have one camp for every two booths but the number of booths was increased to three to ensure work could be completed in two months, the CM said. A task force led by chief secretary Manoj Pant, with the finance secretary and other key department officers, will oversee implementation at the state level; this will be replicated in every district, with cops to be a part of the team. "There will be a 15-day break for Durga Puja but we will cover all booths," she added. Old schemes like Duare Sarkar would continue in December to complete all pending work, Banerjee said, adding that there were fresh applications for Laxmi Bhandar and distribution of caste certificates. "Pending court cases have stalled some of the work but we will complete everything," she said.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Polls ahead, Mamata to bring officials to resolve problems at neighbourhood level
After the success of its 'Duare Sarkar' and 'Parai Samadhan' campaigns, the TMC government in West Bengal will launch a two-month campaign, 'Amader Para, Amader Somadhan' (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution), aimed at resolving issues at the level of 'paras' or neighbourhoods from August 2. Billed as 'one-of-a-kind initiative in the country', the government will spend Rs 8,000 crore on its implementation with Rs 10 lakh allotted to each centre, comprising three booth areas, to resolve local problems. Announcing it at a press conference at Nabanna, the state secretariat, on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: 'Many a time, we notice that there are small issues – like getting a water tap or an electric pole installed in a para (neighbourhood). Through this new programme, our government will be on the roads for the people… Our officials will be on the ground to listen to people's concerns.' 'Each centre will cover areas of three booths, effectively forming one unit for a particular neighbourhood. Since we have around 80,000 booths, it will take approximately two months to complete the entire programme… People will voice their opinions and mutually decide on the issues they need to get them resolved in their booth using Rs 10 lakh.' The announcement comes ahead of the Assembly elections, which is less than a year away. After the TMC received a setback in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Mamata Banerjee-led government had launched 'Duare Sarkar' (Government at the Doorstep) programme, which received huge success, and, according to political analysts, helped the TMC to retain power in the state for the third consecutive time in 2021. The government followed the Duare Sarkar programme with 'Parai Samadhan' (Solution at Neighbourbood) programme, which too got a huge response. In Duare Sarkar, government officials used to hear problems of the people, but in Parai Samadhan, a more micro-level programme, the administration used to address the local issues along with those of the individuals. 'Many people benefited through Duare Sarkar — from getting their caste certificates, to availing benefits of welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar. We tried to cover many areas. Now, we are launching this programme that will be headed by me, the chief secretary, and the Director General of Police,' the chief minister said. 'Officials will remain at each booth for an entire day. A designated space will be set up where villagers can come and share their concerns specific to the local area. We have sanctioned a special fund for this initiative. An amount of Rs 10 lakh will be allocated for every booth. In total, the government will be spending over Rs 8,000 crore on this programme,' the chief minister added. According to the chief minister, a dedicated task force will monitor the programme. 'Task forces will also be constituted at both the district and state levels. The police will also be involved to ensure smooth coordination and implementation,' she added. 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
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
West Bengal CM Mamata launches Rs 8,000-crore local outreach drive ahead of 2026 Assembly polls
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced to launch a new programme namely 'Amader Para Amader Samadhan' (Our Neighbourhood Our Solution). The program is aimed at addressing issues in various localities, both in urban and rural areas across the state. The project with an allocation of Rs 8,000 crore will commence from August 2 and be completed within 60 days. Banerjee said, 'We will be launching a small project 'Amader Para, Amader Samadhan'. A dedicated task force will be formed, headed by the Chief Secretary, to monitor it. Task forces will be constituted at both district and state levels. Police will also be involved to maintain law and order and ensure smooth coordination and implementation.' According to political observers, the government has decided to launch this new programme with an eye on the Assembly elections, due next year. Claiming that 'Amader Para, Amader Samadhan' is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Chief Minister explained, 'Many times, we notice that there are small issues — like setting up a tap or an electric pole — that need attention in localities. We have provided electricity to many areas, but by chance, some places may have been left out. For such minor issues, we are taking up this programme.'
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
West Bengal CM Mamata objects to letter from Haryana Police seeking verification of migrants
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) took exception to a letter from the Haryana Police seeking verification of Bengal migrant workers working in Gurugram. Addressing a press conference at the State Secretariat, Ms. Banerjee said that the Haryana Police had sent a letter seeking verification from District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police to verify the names of 52 migrants from the State. Only a day before, on Monday, the Trinamool Congress chairperson had announced a 'language movement' in protest against the targeting of migrants from the State in BJP-ruled States for speaking in Bengali, at the party's annual Martyrs Day meeting in Kolkata. 'What do you want? to occupy West Bengal? There is a terrorism on language going on,' she remarked. The development comes at a time when scores of migrant workers from West Bengal are being detained in several States, held for days on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. The workers are forced to return to their homes. 'BJP is mistaken' Asking the people from the State not to fear, Ms. Banerjee assured that her government would do all that was required. 'Just by indulging in such tactics, if the BJP thinks by deleting names of people from the voter list they can win West Bengal like [they did in] Delhi and Maharashtra, they are mistaken,' she said. At the press conference, the Chief Minister added that a resident of Falakata in West Bengal, Anjali Seal, had received a notice from a Foreigners Tribunal located in Kokrajhar in Assam. 'If you think that you will run the country in this manner, the country will be divided. Once the country is divided, then unity will suffer. We want the country to remain united and strong,' Ms. Banerjee said at the State Secretariat. She advised Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to mind his own business and not to interfere in the issues of West Bengal. New outreach scheme announced The Chief Minister also announced a new initiative Amader Para, Amader Samadhan (Our locality, our solution), under which government officials will reach out to people across all localities. 'We are the first to take such an initiative in the country. Our officials will be present on the ground to listen to people's concerns. Each centre will cover three booths, effectively forming one unit for a particular locality,' Ms. Banerjee said. The outreach initiative will begin on August 2. Ms. Banerjee added that since there were around 80,000 booths, it would take approximately two months to complete the entire programme. She added that, under the programme, an amount of ₹10 lakh would be allocated for every booth, and that the State government would spend over ₹8,000 crore on this programme. The initiative is similar to the Duare Sarkar (Government at the doorstep) programme, which the State government had started in December 2020.
