Latest news with #Karmashree
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Not a single genuine voter should get left out, Mamata tells DMs
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday told district magistrates that not a single genuine voter should be struck off electoral rolls, stressing that "absence from home" could not be a presumption for "making a decision". Senior govt officials who attended the meeting said Banerjee repeatedly told DMs — who are also district election officers — that everyone should be given a fair chance to explain themselves before their names are deleted from the rolls. The CM also flagged her concern that around 1,000 govt staffers, booth level officers (BLOs) and their supervisors were sent to Delhi for training without even informing Nabanna. "I did not know about it," a senior officer said, quoting the CM. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The prescheduled meeting with the DMs was timed ahead of Bengal govt's ambitious Rs 8,000 crore Amar Para, Amar Samadhan (my neighbourhood, my solution) project launch statewide on Aug 2. In this project, govt officers will meet people and chart their priorities for work to be done with a budget outlay of Rs 10 lakh per booth. There are over 80,000 booths in Bengal. Speaking on the electoral rolls issue, Banerjee reiterated that names of voters should not be deleted whimsically, and all should get a chance to defend themselves as part of natural justice. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brought to you by Undo BLOs must revisit homes where residents are absent, the CM said, "as people can be out of their homes for days or weeks". BLOs should visit the homes of absentee voters twice or thrice to locate them, Banerjee said. She wanted a proper survey of voters by BLOs and wanted them to work in an unbiased manner. Banerjee also asked DMs to engage as many migrant workers as possible — who are returning home after being harassed for speaking Bengali in different states — in Karmashree scheme. The CM had earlier indicated that the state govt was planning to provide jobs to these workers. The rehabilitation of these assaulted migrant workers was also being chalked out, Banerjee had said. On Amar Para, Amar Samadhan, the DMs were alerted so that trivial issues are sorted out instantly and grievances like potholes or repair of taps are taken care of. As part of this project, Banerjee also wanted drainage solutions in rural areas and flood relief to areas that are marooned. The CM asked for evacuation of people from low-lying areas where there are chances of fresh floods. The secretary in the North Bengal Development department, D Nariala, was asked to keep tabs on the flood situation as excess water release from Teesta barrage might worsen the situation. The DMs were asked to keep track of waterlogging, put stress on dengue prevention drives and accelerate shopping mall project in districts where products of self-help groups would be on sale.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
We'll bring our workers back, ensure social security: Mamata
1 2 Kolkata/Bolpur: Bengal administration will ensure "the social security" of migrant workers willing to return to the state and help them resettle here. "You have the police helpline number. Contact us, let us know when you wish to return and we will bring you back by train," Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Monday before Trinamool's first "Bhasha Andolan" march in Santiniketan, the seat of Tagore's Visva-Bharati. "We will give you social security and will admit your kids to school. There is no need to stay in a place where no one loves you. No need to stay in Mumbai, UP or Rajasthan. I may not be able to feed you pithe or payesh (Bengali desserts) but, if we eat one roti, we will ensure you get one, too. You can live here in peace," the CM said, adding that 22 lakh migrants from Bengal worked in other states. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "There's no need to rely on brokers to work outside. When they (workers) are abused, brokers disappear. If they wish to return, they shall return. If they have a place to stay here, fine. If not, we will set up camps. We will give them ration cards, health cards, and jobs under the Karmashree project," she said. CM Mamata Banerjee also told West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board chairperson Samirul Islam, "Sit with the chief secretary, take Moloy (state law and labour minister Moloy Ghatak) with you and formulate a scheme to bring the migrant workers back." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hanoi: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo The CM's statements came during an administrative meeting at Bolpur's Gitanjali Stadium. Following the meeting, Banerjee led the "Bhasha Andolan" march which covered a three-kilometre stretch, from the Tourist Lodge crossing and culminated at Jamboni bus stand. The CM thanked 'Ashramiks' for joining the march and the state's large non-Bengali population for supporting the protests. Following the march, Banerjee said, she could lay down her life for Bangla and the Bengali 'Asmita'. "I am not against any language. We want unity and threatening and harassing people is not our way. Even yesterday, a (Bengali) child in Delhi was beaten up. Cops are taking them from one police station to another. Then one day, he and his family will disappear and police will say this was a fake claim. This is not how we (govts) should work. The job is to work for development," she said. Alleging that there was a bigger "game plan" in play, Banerjee said: "Assam govt is sending NRC notices to a tribal family in Alipurduar. In Maharashtra, Matuas are being persecuted. A worker is murdered…I cannot even recognise this country any more. The country I know sustains all people, my country keeps everyone happy. If they (BJP-led state govts) continue like this, the country will get fragmented. This is their game plan. " She also asked how Bengal residents were being pushed to Bangladesh despite having all relevant documents. "Remember, this is Bengal. It led the country in the freedom struggle, abolished Sati and ensured widow remarriage. Do not test us," Banerjee said, adding: "Those who ask as to why Bengalis are working in other states should know that Bengalis get work because of their skills. There are 1.5 crore migrants from other states working here. We don't misbehave with them. Why should you?"
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mamata Banerjee directs officials to draft scheme for return of Bengali migrant workers
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a bid to facilitate the reverse exodus of Bengali-speaking migrant workers , West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken steps to float a scheme and has directed Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Judicial Minister Moloy Ghatak, and Migrant Welfare Board Chairman Samirul Islam to formulate a plan for migrant workers."We have to stand by people who are tortured outside Bengal. Around 22 lakh migrant workers are outside the state. Samirul Islam and Moloy Ghatak should sit with the Chief Secretary and hold a meeting and design a scheme to bring these workers back to Bengal. The migrant workers, who are willing, should come back to Bengal and work here. The Bengali migrants have residence here. Otherwise, I will set up camps for them. We should issue Swasthya Sathi, the health cards, to these people. They should be included in the Karmashree scheme of the state government, where we provide 50 days work," Banerjee West Bengal government had floated the Karmashree project after the Centre stopped funds for the 100-days speaking at an administrative meeting in Birbhum, spoke about how Bengali-speaking migrants in Gurgaon, Haryana, and other states are being tortured. "They are sent to detention camps. In Maharashtra, one worker has been dismembered and murdered. We cannot accept this. A child was also tortured. The Rajbanshis and Matuas are not spared.""A scheme should be floated. With economic development happening in Bengal, the migrant brothers and sisters should get work in Bengal. Officers went for training in Delhi. DMs must be more alert," Banerjee Para Amader Samadhan is aimed to resolve minor issues faced by the people locally in their paras. This has to be completed by the second week of November. Monitoring teams have to be set up in the districts. "The DMs should have informed us that more than 1,000 people were taken for training in Delhi. The BLOs should make sure that no names are removed from the voter lists."Banerjee pointed out how Bengali-speaking people are tortured. "The Assam government is sending letters to Rajbanshis in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. People are kept in 10 detention camps in Gurgaon. Rajbanshis, Matuas, Dalits, Tapashilis, and minorities are tortured in states like Maharashtra, Delhi," Banerjee Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also hold her first rally against "linguistic terrorism" in Bengal's Birbhum district on Monday, which she calls a "second language movement" against torture and harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Political parties compete to take credit for resumption of MGNREGS in West Bengal
A day after the Calcutta High Court directed the resumption of MGNREGS in West Bengal, political parties in the State tried to take credit for the return of the 100-days-work scheme after a three-year hiatus. A Division Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee on Wednesday (June 18) directed the Union government to resume the Centrally funded scheme from August 1. Welcoming the High Court order, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee noted that her government had already started a scheme called 'Karmashree' to provide 50 days work to people in the State. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the stoppage of the scheme in the State was 'revenge and retribution' after the BJP failed to defeat his party in the 2021 Assembly polls. 'We welcome it. We made a promise to the people of Bengal — that we would fight for their rights with every ounce of strength in our bodies, and we reaffirm our commitment to fight for Bengal against the ZAMINDARS in every forum, at every level,' he said. Also Read | What is the lowdown on MGNREGA funding? The West Bengal BJP leadership described the resumption of the scheme as a 'resounding slap to Trinamool's corrupt machinery'. 'Bengal's poorest will finally receive what's rightfully theirs. But make no mistake — Mamata Banerjee Government will try everything to derail this because she simply cannot tolerate any system that she doesn't control and cannot exploit,' State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said. BJP MP and party spokesperson for the State, Shamik Bhattacharya also spoke on similar lines, asserting that the BJP and Union government wanted to give people 100-day work money. 'We understand that the Trinamool government has pushed its people so far into poverty in this State that they have to depend on this money,' he said. The stoppage of the scheme since March 2022 has affected about 2.5 crore workers in the State. The petition to resume work under MGNREGS was filed by Paschim Banga Khet Majoor Samity (PBKMS), a union of agricultural workers, before the Calcutta High Court. In a statement, PBKMS said that the union viewed the High Court order 'as a significant victory for rural workers in West Bengal and a strong reaffirmation of their right to work under MGNREGA'. The union would remain committed to monitoring the implementation of the court's order and would continue to stand with the workers in their struggle for dignity and justice, it said. Observing that the court order came in response to a petition filed by PBKMS challenging the Central government's suspension of MGNREGS in the State, PBKMS said that the suspension, which lasted over three years, deprived nearly 2.5 crore registered rural workers of their statutory right to employment under the Act. 'PBKMS, on behalf of MGNREGA workers of Bengal, extends heartfelt gratitude to the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha and its constituent organisations who stood in solidarity with the rural workers of Bengal throughout this fight,' the statement added.
United News of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Mamata demands that BJP-led Centre release all MNREGA pending dues
Kolkata, June 18 (UNI) As the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Government to resume the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in West Bengal from August 1, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that the BJP-led government release all pending dues that have been withheld for the past four years. 'The court has ordered that work must resume from August. But for four years, no work was done, no money was released. Our leaders staged protests in Delhi, and cases were filed against them. Central ministers didn't even meet them. We were humiliated in many ways,' the chief minister said in a press conference at Nabanna on Wednesday. 'We paid the workers from state funds. That money must be returned. The Centre must calculate the dues from the day the scheme was stopped and pay accordingly. Why was our share of the money given to other states? That is a crime,' she added. The central government which funds the scheme entirely had suspended MGNREGA funding to West Bengal in March 2022, citing large-scale misappropriation. West Bengal received Rs 7,507.80 crore under MGNREGA in the 2021–22 financial year. However, since then, no funds have been disbursed. The Centre had justified its actions by citing inconsistencies found in 31 out of 63 inspected worksites, according to RTI replies. 'Funds for the 100-day work scheme were not provided. People were made to work, but no payment was given. Who will pay them? We did—from the state government's own resources, through the 'Karmashree' scheme. And now they've come to celebrate 'Bangla Diwas'—those who have constantly insulted and deprived Bengal.' 'We will review this petition. You are sending teams to Bengal, but first, release the funds. It has been four years, and not a single rupee has been given. This is public money,' she said. The chief minister was referring to a four-member verification committee comprising representatives from the Central and State Governments, along with officials from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Accountant General. In April 2025, the committee reported that Rs 24 crore had been recovered from the districts under investigation. Additional Solicitor General Ashok Kumar Chakraborty, representing the Centre, said in the court that central investigation teams uncovered irregularities in districts like Hooghly, East Bardhaman, Malda, and Darjeeling, involving embezzlement of over Rs 50 crores. A broader audit revealed anomalies amounting to Rs 613 crores, of which Rs 2.1 crores had been recovered by the state as of 2024. However, the court observed that the grievances of genuine workers cannot be ignored on account of administrative or political concerns marking a major development in the long-standing deadlock over the rural employment programme. 'All the allegations are from before 2022. You are free to take any action regarding those. But the project must be started now,' Chief Justice Sivagnanam observed in response during the hearing. The court further clarified that MGNREGA, as legislated, does not allow for its indefinite suspension even in the face of corruption charges, and that any such action violates the spirit of the Act. UNI XC RN
