Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday visited two forest villages dominated by tribal people in Alipurduar district and enquired whether they were receiving the benefits of all social welfare schemes run by her government.
The chief minister went to Chilapata and Kodalbusty, located on the fringes of the Jaldapara National Park, after her address at the Parade Ground in Alipurduar town. The villages are around 35km from the town.
“The chief minister entertained children with chocolates and interacted with elderly people, asking them whether they were receiving the benefits of an array of welfare schemes introduced by the state government. Senior officials were with her. She instructed them to ensure that no prospective beneficiaries in the district, particularly those in rural areas, were excluded from the schemes,” said a source in the administration.
Mamata has visited the forest hamlets shortly after she instructed Trinamul Congress leaders and workers of Alipurduar district to reach out to people and help them get benefits of the welfare schemes.
“You come out of your homes and visit every doorstep to help people. Help them get benefits of our schemes but without any remuneration. If required, take the help of our women workers and supporters,” the chief minister said in her speech at the Parade Ground.
Alipurduar, a district that was carved out of Jalpaiguri district in 2014, has largely the people of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In the past few years, the BJP managed to consolidate its support base in Alipurduar district. The party won the sole Lok Sabha segment in the district where Trinamul failed to bag a single Assembly seat in 2021.
“That is why the district is on the chief minister’s radar. Also, her instruction to party workers, followed by a sudden visit to two tribal villages, indicates that she wants her workers to replicate her and reach out to the tribal populace. She is keen to regain the support of the tribal people, a majority of whom had voted the BJP in the past few years,” said a senior functionary of Trinamul.
At the public meeting, Mamata asked the residents of the district to be with her party while highlighting the social welfare schemes and the infrastructure projects undertaken by the Trinamul government in north Bengal in the past 11 years.
“Do not misunderstand our party for the wrongdoings of some local leaders. It is our government which gives all possible benefits to people, unlike the BJP. The central government launches ‘Ujjwala’ (scheme to provide free LPG connection to the poor which colloquially means light) but it eventually ends in ‘andhera’ (darkness). We have to strengthen Trinamul here,” she said.
While mentioning the state’s initiatives to provide land rights to people living on the state government’s land, Mamata accused the Centre of evicting people who lived on railway land.
“They do not have such a right. If they want to evict you, join hands and raise protests,” said Mamata.
The chief minister also referred to Wednesday’s event — a mega mass marriage ceremony hosted by police and the administration where 510 tribal couples will tie the knot. She will be the chief guest at the mass wedding.
“We will hand over Rs 25,000 in cash to each couple, along with apparel and utensils. We have always worked for tribal people. That is why a free housing scheme for tea workers has been introduced and the daily tea wage, which was Rs 67 when we came to power, is Rs 202 now. It will increase further,” said Mamata.
