Some 100 families from villages of Kazigram panchayat under Englishbazar block of Malda have written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging they were denied the state’s Swasthya Sathi facility for protesting against “corruption” in the Trinamul-run local body.

“Because we protested against irregularities and wanted to avail the state’s welfare schemes too, some people in the panchayat started insisting that we withdraw the complaints. Those who refused were not included under the state’s free health insurance scheme (Swasthya Sathi),” said resident Bappa Mandal.

This prompted them to write to Mamata, said another resident.

“We feel block and the district administration will be active if Didi takes notice of the issue and passes orders to them. We have also sent a copy of the letter to administrative officials here,” he said.

The letter from villagers comes at a time the state government launched “Duare Sarkar”, an initiative to extend the benefits of state-run welfare schemes to most people across Bengal, including those who were never a part of any scheme.

Swasthya Sathi has been the top draw in the Duare Sarkar initiative.

In Kazigram, some people had been vocal against the panchayat authorities, alleging that many workers were not paid wages for services rendered three years back under the 100-days work scheme.

Residents had also complained about irregularities in sanctioning of houses under the states scheme and that many people were bereft of benefits of other schemes like “Samabyathi” (financial assistance to conduct one’s last rites) and pension for senior citizens. On December 1, the day Duare Sarkar was launched, a group of people held a sit-in demonstration in front of the district magistrate’s office. A resident filed a police complaint against the panchayat head Satyajit Mondal too.

Mondal, however, denied the charges and said they are taking all initiatives to ensure that those eligible for the health insurance scheme and others had been included as beneficiaries. “We suspect that the BJP has provoked some of them,” he said. “These people did not turn up at the camp of Duaare Sarkar where forms for enrolment under the scheme are being issued.
An official in the district administration said they are looking into the allegations.

“So far as enrolment of prospective beneficiaries is concerned, we will not entertain any discrimination. We are looking into the allegations,” the official said.