Latest news with #LakshmirBhandar
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Bengal to borrow Rs 4K cr for 25% DA pay to staff
KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has started preparations to approach the market this week to borrow approximately Rs 4,300 crore to pay the 25% Dearness Allowance (DA) to state government employees and pensioners, following a Supreme Court order issued on May 16. The state requires around Rs 10,425 crore to comply with the apex court's order by June 27; or else it may face contempt of court proceedings. On the contrary, complying with the order will push the state into a larger debt trap with a total outstanding debt of Rs 7,06,531.61 crore, as per the revised budget estimate for 2024-25. When the Mamata Banerjee government came into power in May 2011, the state had a total debt of around Rs 1.89 lakh crore. Over the last 14 years, the debt has nearly quadrupled due to inadequate mobilisation of financial resources and a significant jump in expenditure related to various welfare schemes, including 'Kanyashri', and 'Lakshmir Bhandar'. According to political observers, these schemes paid a huge dividend to Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress in the electoral politics both in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls by securing most of the women's vote. However, at the same time, these schemes, along with 'Swastha Sathi', somehow depleted the exchequer somehow.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
6.8L women under Lakshmir Bhandar getting pension
1 2 3 Kolkata: More than 6.8 lakh women who had crossed the age of 60 were now receiving old age pensions under Bengal govt's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, state minister for women, child development and social welfare Shashi Panja informed the assembly on Friday. Women getting financial assistance under the scheme automatically receive the same amount as old age pension on turning 60. Govt had so far disbursed Rs 63,615 crore to 2.2 crore beneficiaries under Lakshmir Bhandar, the minister said. Besides, 41,892 women were availing the Taposili Bandhu pension scheme and 6,166 women the Jai Johar pension scheme. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
TMC slams BJP over ‘sindoor-selling' remark
1 2 Kolkata: TMC targeted BJP 's state leadership on Monday over alleged derogatory remarks about women and the freezing of central funds. The criticism came at a press conference after leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari's comments about sindoor and bangles at a Sandeshkhali rally on Sunday. "Yesterday, Adhikari spoke about Lakshmir Bhandar and said that women shouldn't sell their sindoor and bangles at Rs 500-1,000," said state minister Shashi Panja. "Lakshmir Bhandar is a universal scheme for each and every woman of Bengal, unlike the exclusionary schemes in BJP-governed states," she added and went on to say: "They (BJP) are in office in a lot of states. Why doesn't Adhikari ask those govts to extend benefits and give Rs 3,000 to every woman?" The netas slammed other BJP seniors' misogynist comments, including remarks of Union minister Sukanta Majumdar and former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh about CM Mamata Banerjee. On central funds, MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said: "Over Rs 1.75 lakh crore of Bengal's funds have been wilfully blocked by Centre." Netas also spoke of BJP's "manipulation" in the Sandeshkhali incident. "They cheated the women of Sandeshkhali by making them sign on blank papers, using those later to file fake complaints," Panja claimed. tnn
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
West Bengal BJP holds rally over TMC leader's ‘vile' remarks on women
The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a Nari Samman Yatra on Monday (June 9, 2025) to protest derogatory remarks made by Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal directed at the wife and mother of the Officer-in-Charge of Bolpur Police Station. The Trinamool Congress let the Birbhum strongman off with an apology, but the police have registered an FIR. The BJP, to register their protest, organised a major procession in Bolpur, which was led by Suvendu Adhikari. Speaking at a meeting in Bolpur, Mr. Adhikari said that the mother and wife who were insulted represent the honour of all women in the State. 'Anubarta (Mondal) used this language against the Officer-in-Charge, directing it at his wife and mother. Can someone utter such language? Had Yogi Adityanath been the Chief Minister he would have been in prison,' Mr. Adhikari said at the rally. Anubrata Mondal appeared before the police on June 5, several days after an FIR was registered against him at Bolpur Police station. The FIR was in connection with an audio where Mr. Mondal is heard abusing and threatening the police officer using vile language not only against him but also towards his wife and mother. Referring to the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the BJP leader claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could not understand the pain of another woman and offered ₹10 lakh to the parents of the victim, which they refused. It is now 10 months since the gruesome rape and murder, and a crowd had gathered outside Tala Police Station in Kolkata, under whose jurisdiction the crime was reported on August 9, 2024. OBC Yatra Mr. Adhikari announced that after the Nari Samman Yatra, the BJP leadership in the State is planning to organise a OBC Adhikaar Yatra. On Sunday the BJP leader held a protest rally at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas. Women leaders of Trinamool, including Minister Sashi Panja, and MP Kakuli Ghosh Dastidar, held a press conference in Kolkata and said that the BJP has no right to speak of honour and respect for women. 'Women cannot take any more insults from the BJP. Yesterday, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, while speaking at Sandeshkhali, said that women should not sell their shankha-sindoor for ₹500–1,000 for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.' Lakshmir Bhandar is a cash incentive scheme of the West Bengal government that was launched in February 2021, under which ₹1,200 per month is given to women in reserved categories, and ₹1,000 to women from the general category. 'Lakshmir Bhandar is not a handout. It is the lifeline of Bengal's women. And as long as Smt. @MamataOfficial is at the helm, no force can snatch that away. Insulting Bengal's women will cost you dearly,' the Trinamool Congress said in a statement on social media.'
India Today
31-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Mamata Banerjee rebuts PM Modi's Alipurduar remarks, highlights initiatives
In a pointed response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent rally in Alipurduar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vehemently rejected the allegations of underdevelopment in the region.'Yesterday a vicious and false campaign was there at Alipurduar in North Bengal from a self-serving and politically motivated point of view for narrow power gains. This was a campaign that attempted to downplay and erase out the significant development works of our government for the people in Alipurduar district,' Banerjee wrote on blatant untruths were served from the high quarters of the Hon'ble Prime Minister. Therefore, I want to share some facts and data relating to our actual impactful initiatives for the people of Alipurduar,' the post further read. Addressing the claims as part of a "vicious and false campaign," Banerjee presented a comprehensive overview of the state's developmental efforts in Chief Minister began by emphasising the establishment of Alipurduar as the 20th district of West Bengal in June 2014, aimed at enhancing administrative highlighted that, since its formation, the district has witnessed substantial progress across various sectors, ensuring that every resident has benefited from at least one state government Bengal CM also added that in terms of infrastructure, the state government has made significant strides. Notable projects include the 'Dooars Kanya' integrated administrative building, a multi-speciality hospital in Falakata, an AYUSH hospital, a nursing school and numerous wellness the educational landscape has also been bolstered with the establishment of Alipurduar University, a government engineering college, and several new schools and student welfare initiatives have played a pivotal role in uplifting the community. Over Rs 1,200 crore has been disbursed through various programs, benefiting lakhs of individuals. Programs like Lakshmir Bhandar, Kanyashree, Khadyasathi, and Swasthya Sathi have had a transformative impact on the lives of the people in Banerjee concluded by reiterating the state's dedication to the holistic development of Alipurduar. She emphasised that the government's focus remains on the welfare of the people, irrespective of their religion, race, or caste and reaffirmed the commitment to continuous development in the Watch
