Bengal Thrives Under Didi

 

Avijit Nandi Majumdar chronicles West Bengal`s tryst with hope under able administrator in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is gradually rewriting the 34-year-long Left Front misrule

There was a great sense of relief at last; the landslide win at the 2011 assembly polls had ushered in a new hope, putting an end to the long-drawn anarchy and an era of the Leftists` misrule.

Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, had become the Chief Minister under difficult circumstances, inheriting a loathsome baggage of more than Rs 2 lakh crore of debt from the Left Front government. It wasn’t an easy task to take charge as West Bengal CM in such a situation.

However, the firebrand leader was in no mood to relent. She took up the challenge of the revival of the state from the utter clutches of debacle towards its dynamic resurgence, once again to live up to her reputation of an able administrator and a consummate politician.

The financial crunch had made up her mind to pursue Central assistance. She had sought for only a three-year moratorium towards dispensing of dues, but as the days wore on, it became evident that the state government’s SOS had fallen on the Congress-led UPA government`s deaf ears. 

With such impediments on her way towards governance, she came up with a remarkable degree of success to lift the state from a point of no return to one of promises and growth.

During the last few years of the Left Front rule, the state was besieged with social, political and economic crisis. There were the Maoists, who epitomize the growing Left Wing Extremism and the secessionist movements were taking a toll on the peace-loving people of the north Bengal, jeopardizing the tourism industry to the hilt.

With the enormous sincere efforts of the new state government, things look much better and the haunting problems of the Maoists and the hilly zones have been resolved to a great extent.

In just a little over two years, the able democratic government, led by the CM, has achieved 7.6% GDP(Gross Domestic Product) growth rate compared to the national average of 4.96% during the last financial year (2012-13).

In industry, the growth rate was 6.24% against the national average of 3.12%.

 In agriculture, the state recorded 2.56% against national growth rate of 1.79, while in service sector the state achieved 9.48% against the national record of 6.59%.

Kisan credit cards with a limit of Rs 45,000 were distributed among 10 lakh farmers.

51,000 ponds were dug under the state government’s water conservation programme.

About 17% of the people were brought under reservation in the state.

The state also topped in executing e-governance expediting the administrative process.

It was able to reduce man-day’s loss drastically bringing in a revolution in work culture, which was completely absent in the 34-year-long Left Front regime.

The state government’s expenditure under MGNREGA project during last financial year was Rs 4,408 crore, but the state government received Rs 4,108 crore.

In the health sector, the government achieved a lot in two years compared to the previous government.

The state government also took bold steps announcing reservation of 50% seats for women at the panchayat level, while 65 police stations were being set up for women and 45 special courts would also come up for crime against women very shortly.

Plan outlay for minorities in 2010-11 was Rs 220 crore which has been increased to Rs 859 crore.

The revenue collection during 2012-13 fiscal exceeded the previous financial year’s figure by nearly 30%.

The entire amount could not be used for development work as the central government deducted Rs 26,000 crore from this by way of repayment of debts incurred by the Left Front regime.

West Bengal is currently poised at number one in ensuring 100 days’ work under the NREGA scheme.

Twelve new horticulture crops have been brought under crop insurance which is a welcome step, which has a high potential for growth and export. 

“Allocation of Rs 1,260 crore in health with focus on diverse aspects like maternal health, child health would help to take the state further ahead in human development index.

Allocation of Rs 270 crore for higher education would definitely boost the education sector.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has welcomed the stand mooted by the state finance minister Amit Mitra’s decision to allocate Rs 585 crore to the Agriculture Department, and Rs 181 crore to the Agriculture Marketing Department for the next fiscal that would boost agriculture to a large extent.

To promote the development of high quality private universities in West Bengal, the state government has also notified a policy on establishment of private universities to encourage private investment in higher education with an emphasis on excellence and inclusion.

ICC also welcomed the decision to allocate Rs. 380 crore to the Transport Department for 2013-14, and Rs. 895.43 Crore to the Public Works (Roads) Department in the next fiscal. 

The Bengal Chamber of Commerce said that the Mitra has placed a people-oriented budget, mostly focusing on social sector development especially health, mother & child care, education, SC/ST development. 

“The finance minister has left encouraging trends by announcing setting up of IT hubs in most districts of the state under the PPP mode,” the Bengal Chamber said in a release.

The ‘ma mati manush’ government has been largely successful in turning a depleting Bengal to a direction of hope and real growth. Development has got a new meaning and dimension under the leadership of Banerjee.

As goes the saying, “No matter how much you do, it’s the attitude that ultimately matters”.

Hence, the Trinamool supremo’s attitude has given West Bengal a real cause to smile, to live in peace and harmony with growth and development all around.