Latest news with #AmaderSamadhan
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.
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.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mamata Banerjee launches ₹8,000 cr 'Amader Para' scheme to resolve local issues booth-by-booth in West Bengal
Kolkata: The West Bengal government launched an outreach programme, "Amader Para, Amader Samadhan" (Our neighbourhood, our Solution) on Tuesday to provide services to common people, claiming it to be first of its kind in the country. 'We often notice that there are small issues which need to be addressed in our neighbourhood- like the setting up of a tap, need for an electric pole - that need attention in localities. This programme is the first of its kind initiative in the country. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Project Management Technology Digital Marketing healthcare PGDM others Artificial Intelligence Data Science Operations Management Finance Leadership MBA Cybersecurity Management CXO Product Management Data Science Others Degree Public Policy Data Analytics Design Thinking Healthcare Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details 'We are sanctioning 10 lakh per booth. In total, the state government will be spending Rs 8000 crore on this programme. It will start on August 2. A Task Force will be headed by the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, who will monitor this. A similar district level Task Force will be formed by CS at both the district and state levels,' Banerjee said. 'Our state government officials will be present on the ground to listen to the people's concerns. Each centre will cover three booths, effectively forming one unit for a particular locality. The entire process will be done in a transparent manner. Since we have around 80,000 booths, it will take approximately two months to complete the entire programme. Officials will remain at each booth for three days. A designated space will be set up where villagers can come and share their concern,' Banerjee said. "Launched on August 2, 2025, the programme is rooted in the vision of a self-reliant Bengal, where the focus is not merely on delivery but on deep listening, transparency and collaboration. Government officials will be physically present in every locality to listen to grievances, register demands, and oversee the process, which will likely span over two months. The initiative is unprecedented in the history of India, and it reflects the State Government's commitment to placing people at the heart of policymaking," a statement said. Taking to X, All India Trinamool Congress posted: "As a true step towards participatory governance and a self-reliant Bangla, Smt. @MamataOfficial has announced Amader Para, Amader Samadhan – 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."
