Mamata to meet Modi

"I have asked for time to meet the Prime Minister along with a team of State government officials."

New Delhi, June 10,2010:: Union Minister for Railways, Mamata Banerjee after attending the Cabinet Meeting presidede by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on June 10, 2010. photo- Rajeev Bhatt

In an apparent softening of attitude towards the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was willing to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to Bengal.

“There are some schemes where funds have been stopped. I have to talk why the funds have been stopped. I have asked for time to meet the Prime Minister along with a team of State government officials, including the State Home Secretary and the Chief Secretary. We will be presenting a memorandum to him regarding the revival of Centrally-funded projects in the State,” Ms. Banerjee told media persons at Uttar Kanya, the north Bengal secretariat at Siliguri in Darjeeling district.

Alleging the Centre of stopping funds for developmental projects at key areas in the State, Ms. Banerjee said: “We experienced some problems in the 100 days work scheme because the Centre had stopped our funds. Under the new guidelines, the Centre has slashed funding by 50 per cent for several projects like the ICDS and has stopped funding developmental work in Darjeeling and Jangalmahal areas.”

These are all important social sector projects, she said and added that social sector is the backbone of the society. There are no funds for border and 11 backward districts, and modernisation of police forces, she said.

However, despite the drying up of Central funds, developmental work in these areas with the State government’s finances, is under way, the Chief Minister said.

She met government officials during the day and held discussions related to developmental work in north Bengal.

Stating that the meeting went well, she said more meetings are planned.

“We discussed everything – malnutrition, tourism, potato farming, women and child issues, small scale industries, municipalities. The municipality work here is impressive. Some work is left though…I have taken a stock of the entire situation. The work for digital ration card has reached 92 per cent of its target, mid day meal by 100 per cent and 100 per cent in building toilets for girls. Some projects have been completed only by 80 or 25 per cent, we are working on it,” Ms. Banerjee said.