With BJP at helm, central schemes not implemented so far in Bengal likely to be put in place

Kolkata, May 6 The BJP’s emergence as the new government of West Bengal, ending the 15-year Trinamool Congress rule, has cleared uncertainties over the future of a number of centrally-sponsored schemes that had not been implemented so far by the state administration and outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Now, as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his pre-election rallies, these centrally sponsored schemes will be implemented fully, the most important of which is the health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat.

Till now, the Mamata Banerjee-led Cabinet did not allow its implementation because of the existence of Swasthya Sathi, the West Bengal government’s own health insurance scheme.

While the Ayushman Bharat scheme had a national-level applicability, the Swasthya Sathi scheme’s implementation jurisdiction was limited within the boundaries of West Bengal.

Other centrally sponsored schemes that never witnessed implementation in their full form because of administrative resistance are PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Matrishakti Bharosa, Yuva Shakti Bharosa and others, are likely to be implemented now.

Jal Jeevan Mission: Under this project, water connection is provided to every household through tap water. Due to delay in submission of proposals and preparation of documents, the state has used just 53 per cent of the central allocation of Rs 24,645 crore between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Now the people of the state can get the benefits of this project under the double engine government. Till now, piped water was supplied to every household under the Trinamool government of the state. It was the election promise of Trinamool to provide it to every household. With the implementation of the central scheme, it is likely that more households will be covered under the central scheme and without any obstacle from the state administration.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: Under this, the Union government provides funds to build houses to certain income families. The equivalent project in Bengal is called 'Banglar Bari'. Now, the people of the state will get benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. With this, a larger number of beneficiaries will come under this scheme who were earlier deprived. If both schemes are continued, then more people will get the benefits.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: If this project of the Centre is implemented, financial assistance, insurance and modern equipment will be provided to fishermen. However, according to officials, more fishermen will benefit, if the central scheme is implemented.

Yuva Shakti Bharosa: Under this project, the Union Government has announced that it will provide Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed youth to become self-reliant. However, not everyone will get the benefits. There are specific conditions for that. In the state, the outgoing Trinamool government launched the 'Yuvashree' scheme in April. With the central scheme, youth will receive Rs 3,000 per month in their bank accounts instead of Rs 1,500 per month which was promised by the state government.

Matrishakti Bharosa: The Centre has announced that women from certain income families will get Rs 3,000 per month. The Trinamool government has been running a scheme called 'Lakshmi Bhandar' for the last five years, every woman in the state gets Rs 1,500 per month. This was probably the most popular scheme of the Trinamool government so far. If the Matrishakti Bharosa scheme is launched in the state, this amount will be doubled. Women will receive Rs 3,000 per month instead of Rs 1,5000 per month.

Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI): An equivalent scheme in West Bengal is the internationally awarded 'Kanyashree'. Under this, every girl in the state gets free education. From class 1 to 12 and later, education in colleges and universities is free. Apart from this, a one-time payment of Rs 25,000 is also available. Now, the PM SHRI is likely to be implemented in the state. With the implementation of the central scheme, female students will receive more financial assistance.

Due to its opposition to the Centre, the Trinamool Congress government didn't implement many of the central schemes in Bengal as it would have promoted the welfare measures of the Centre instead of the state government’s schemes. With the change of power, there is a hope that central schemes will see the light of the day in the state.

After 15 years, there has been another political change in the state. The BJP has come to power by winning 207 seats in the 294-seat strong West Bengal Assembly. Trinamool’s seats have come down to 80 from the 215 it won in 2021.

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