Addressing a joint press conference after the cabinet meeting, Minister Agnimitra Pal officially announced the government’s decisions. She said that the cabinet meeting had given the green signal to proposals mainly related to women’s empowerment and welfare.
Implementation of ‘Annapurna Yojana’: The government has announced the ambitious ‘Annapurna Yojana’ to empower women in the state financially. Eligible women in West Bengal will get direct financial assistance of Rs 3,000 every month from next month, i.e. June 1. Along with this, a huge contribution has been made to women in the state’s transport system, and the cabinet has also approved the proposal to provide free travel facilities to women in all government buses in the state from now on.
Notably, the minister has clarified that those who have applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and members of the tribunals constituted to include their names in the voter list will also be eligible to get the benefits of this Annapurna Yojana.
Gift of 7th Pay Commission for government employees: Responding to the long-standing demand of state government employees, the Suvendu Adhikari government has approved the formation of the 7th State Pay Commission for employees, staff of statutory bodies related to it and educational institutions. This has paved the way for salary revision of lakhs of government employees.
Cancellation of OBC list, cessation of religiously based assistance: Another very important and politically significant decision of the Suvendu government is the decision to completely stop the government financial assistance given to various groups based on religious classification from June.
As a continuation of this, Minister Agnimitra Pal, citing the recent verdict of the Calcutta High Court, said that the government has canceled the current OBC list in the state. She announced that a new inquiry committee will be formed to scientifically re-determine the quota eligibility. She explained that the High Court order will be strictly followed in matters related to OBC from now on.
Smart administration and green transport: The government is planning to launch new eco-friendly electric buses (E-Buses) in West Bengal to modernize the public transport system and control environmental pollution. The minister informed that it has been decided to hold a mandatory cabinet meeting every 15 days from now on to speed up the government’s administrative machinery and monitor the implementation of public welfare schemes.