WB govt carrying on social welfare schemes despite tight fiscal condition : Mamata

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said West Bengal government has t stopped its social welfare schemes and has paid salaries and pension regularly despite tight fiscal condition due to very little financial help from Centre during COVID-19 pandemic.

state has spent Rs 4500 crore for coronavirus treatment facilities from it's own coffers despite tight financial situation, she said at an administrative review meeting here.

"For every single paise spent I have to be accountable to public, as it is public money. state has it's own limitations. Centre has t given any financial help, but that has t stopped us.

"We are giving salary, pension to our staff regularly in COVID-19 situation. Of 10 crore population, t less than 9 crore have benefitted in some way or or by numerous globally recognised social welfare schemes of our government. What we have mand despite COVID situation in terms of continuing social welfare projects is unprecedented," she claimed.

Referring to recent visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to a tribal household in district "as an attempt to do politics." She said, "y (BJP) had come to do politics. (Shah) Took meal from a five star hotel, stayed at tribal house for some time to have meal and n left. y did thing for treatment of ailing girl of household".

TMC workers have visited girl's residence and district administration has arranged for her treatment, Banerjee said.

Trinamool Congress supremo had on Monday described Shah's visit as a "show off" and had claimed that food items served to BJP leader were cooked at a five star hotel.

Informed of eviction of people from railway land near Bankura town, Banerjee asked district authorities to ensure that re is forcible eviction.

" district magistrate and superintendent of police will ensure that people living on such land are t harassed by anyone. We have given free title deed for those living on central, state and private lands for years so that y cant be evicted," she said.

She said a dedicated freight corridor was coming up linking Dankuni-Burdwan-Durgapur-Barjora which will help creating employment opportunities for thousands in several south Bengal districts.

Banerjee expressed displeasure over a large number of cases lodged with programme implementation and public grievances cell.

She said 3405 'Bangiyo Sahayata Kendro' (Bengal help centres) have already been set up by state government in different blocks to help people get information about different departments for free.

state, she said, had discontinued earlier central project in which one had to pay money for information.

She said under Pathashree project of state , 16,199 km roads will be revated or relaid in different parts of state by December 31, 2020 by different implementing ncies like panchayat, urban affairs and PWD.

Banerjee said during tenure of her government, 2.5 lakh km road had been constructed in state, while figure was 65,000-70,000 km under previous regime.

She said headquarters of welfare board for different backward castes will be set up at a place where concerned community members are in larger numbers.

headquarters of cultural board for Bauri community will be set up in Bankura and for Matuas at Thakurnagar in rth 24 Parganas district, she said.

chief minister anunced Rs five crore grant for Bauri board.

She complimented Bankura district administration for achieving aver of 1353 COVID-19 tests daily but urged m to ramp up testing figure.

Banerjee asked chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, who was present, to hasten government project to digitise thousand years old Sanskrit manuscripts of Bishnupur.