Free bus travel for women, ‘Annapurna’ scheme approved
New Delhi: The West Bengal cabinet led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday decided to stop government aid to groups based on religious classification from June, while also approving a new monthly financial assistance scheme for women and free bus travel in state-run buses.The development comes after CM Adhikari held a ‘Janata Darbar’ at the BJP office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake City, where he interacted with citizens and heard their grievances. The official also reiterated that Bengali culture will again gain global prominence after years of repression under the previous regime.
What are the big decisions of Bengal Cabinet?
- Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Minister of State Agnimitra Paul said, “The Bengal Cabinet has decided to stop government aid to groups based on religious classification from June.”
- He also announced that the state government has approved the ‘Annapurna’ scheme under which eligible women will get Rs 3,000 per month from June 1.
- “The Cabinet approved the ‘Annapurna’ scheme of providing monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 to women from June 1. It also approved the proposal to allow free travel for women in government-run buses from June 1,” he said.
- He said women who had applied for citizenship under the CAA and approached tribunals to be included in the voter list would also be eligible for benefits under the Annapurna scheme.
- Paul said the government has also decided to scrap the existing state OBC list following the Calcutta High Court verdict and will set up a scrutiny panel to determine the quota eligibility.
- The Cabinet also approved the constitution of the 7th State Pay Commission for government employees, employees of affiliated statutory bodies, education boards and employees working in state-run educational institutions.
- The BJP won a landslide victory in the recent West Bengal Assembly elections by winning 206 seats in the 294-member House, while the All India Trinamool Congress came second with 80 seats. On 9 May, Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal after defeating former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the Bhabanipur seat.