After giving a call to Maoists to lay down arms, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday turned her attention to the poorest of the poor in Jangalmahal by announcing that all tribals in the three districts would be included in the below poverty line (BPL) list.
“I am declaring all tribals living in Jangalmahal as BPL families. I have instructed the Chief Secretary to work out the details to implement this within one and half months,” Ms. Banerjee told a public rally in Sarenga in Bankura district on the second day of her first visit to the area as Chief Minister.
Stating that the key to development in Jangalmahal comprising West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts, lay in food for all, she said, “Our government’s top priority is to give food to all.”
“The huge population living in Jangalmahal is poor. If all get food, the problem will be solved. The previous government neglected development of Jangalmahal,” she said.
Stating that her government had decided after coming to power that tribals earning less than Rs. 42,000 a year would be eligible to rice at Rs. 2 a kg, she said that non-tribals have also been given some relief.
Non-tribals, who earlier required a BPL card to be eligible for the rice scheme, would be eligible for rice at Rs. 2 rice a kg if their income was less than Rs. 36,000, she said.
During the previous Left Front regime, tribals in Jangalmahal with annual income of less than Rs. 24,000 were eligible for the rice scheme.
“Our focus will be on improving basic services such as health, education, drinking water and sanitation,” she said.
