Mamata Banerjee has announced a new programme at the micro level to help people register their names for various welfare schemes of the Bengal government if they are left out of the benefits even after multiple editions of Duare Sarkar camps.

“The Janasanjog Programme will be held between January 20 and February 12 at the booth level to ensure that nobody is left out of benefits extended under various welfare schemes. Those who are yet to be brought under welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar and Krishak Bandhu can register their names through the new programme. Those who are yet to get caste certificates or facing troubles to receive rations can also register their problems through the new programme,” the chief minister said on Tuesday.

Mamata said each Janasanjog Programme camp at the booth level would be manned by three government officials. Family members of migrant labourers can also visit the camps and register their names for facilities like skill upgrade training.

While some senior government officials said the new programme would be helpful for those who were still out of the ambit of the welfare schemes, another section of bureaucrats said such a huge exercise was not required at all.

“The names of almost all eligible people have been included in the list of beneficiaries of various welfare schemes through Duare Sarkar camps (which were held at gram panchayat levels). As more than 90 per cent of eligible people had already been registered for the benefits, footfalls at the last Duare Sarkar edition camps held in December were lower,” said an official.

Some officials wondered if the government would be able to provide benefits to those who would register their names through the Janasanjog Programme.

“The government could not extend benefits to nearly 30 lakh people who registered their names for various welfare schemes like old age pension and widow pension in the previous two Duare Sarkar camps because of struggling state coffers. Now, if the names of a few more lakh people are added to the lists of beneficiaries, it would be difficult for the state to extend benefits to them,” said an official.

Another official said complaints were rising in various districts as many people did not get benefits even after they had registered their names at Duare Sarkar camps in September last year.

“It is evident that the grievances are growing. Many were lodging their complaints with the Sorasori Mukhyomontri programme after they did not get benefits on time. Now, adding more beneficiaries to the schemes could make the situation critical,” said the bureaucrat.

The officials said the government was working hard to arrange some funds to extend the benefits of welfare schemes to those who registered the names at the last
two Duare Sarkar camps in September and December of 2023.

“The chief minister is herself looking into the issue.... Against this backdrop, the booth-level programme will be launched as the last attempt to reach out to all sections of the society ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls,” said a senior official.