Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls West Bengal government’s Budget for the 2024-25 had a slew of policies for social welfare and sops for every sector from women, government employees and contractual employees.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya tabled ₹3,66,166 crore Budget by doubling the monthly financial assistance under the ‘Lakhsmi Bhandar’ scheme, increasing the Dearness Allowance (DA) to government employees and hiking salaries of civic police volunteers .“The Centre has imposed a financial blockade on West Bengal. But, we will not cow down. The State’s dues from the central government is nearly ₹1.18 lakh crore,” Ms. Bhattacharya said.
The financial assistance under the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme for the general category has been increased from ₹500 to ₹1000 per month and for SC/ST hiked from ₹1000 to ₹1200. This increased allocation will cost an additional ₹1200 crore to the State exchequer. The allocation for the flagship scheme with about 2.11 crore beneficiaries in the State for the year 2024-25 stands at a whopping ₹14,400 crore.
The State’s Finance Minister also announced an additional 4% dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees from May, in addition to the 4% that was declared in January 2024. Ms. Bhattacharya also added that her government introduced a ‘Gender and Child Budget Statement’ in this year’s Budget.
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The West Bengal government has allocated ₹3,700 crores to pay the wages of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers as announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on February 3. Observing that the “Central government has deprived marginalised people of their minimum subsidence right by denying funds under MGNREGA‘,‘ the Budget referred to a new scheme ‘Kamrasree’ where the State government will ensure at least 50 day work to each job card holder. The Budget also promised that the West Bengal government also promised to provide employment to five lakh persons through several schemes.
West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee conducts proceedings during the Budget session of the Assembly, in Kolkata, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
The Budget allocated Rs 900 crore to Class XI students for purchasing tablets, smart phones for class XI students. The scheme ‘Taruner Swapno’ was introduced in 2022. The West Bengal government in the Budget for 2024-25 brought Migrant workers working outside the State under the Swasyatha Sathi scheme and introduced grants for new artisans, handlooms, and Khadi weavers. Under the Samudra Sathi scheme fishermen will be given ₹5000 a month for two months mid-April to mid-June when there is ban on fishing activities.
The Budget documents tabled in the State Assembly pointed out that the tax collection is expected at around ₹1,02,349 crore whereas the debt as a percentage of GSDP stood at 36.88% in 2024-25. The expenditure for capital outlay is pegged at ₹35,866 crore whereas revenue expenditure stands at ₹2,68,202 crore. The State government’s raising of public debt amounts to ₹1,21,689 crore.
Lauding the Budget, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that despite the financial constraints the Budget proves that West Bengal is marching ahead and showing the path for the rest of the country on how to make provisions in a Budget for the masses.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari described the Budget as ‘directionless’ and said that the document was an attempt to hold on to power and regain lost ground ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
The tabling of the Budget witnessed noisy scenes in the State Assembly with members of the Opposition benches disrupting the speech of the Finance Minister. As the proceedings of the State Assembly started the State Song’ Bangla Mati Bangla Jal’ was played. Mr. Adhikari and other BJP MLA started singing the national anthem at the same time. Speaker Biman Banerjee and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemn the behavior of the BJP legislators.
The Chief Minister said that the Assembly was not a “BJP office” and said that her MPs will not allow tabling of the Union Budget next time if the BJP legislators did not behave themselves. There was ruckus in the House and the BJP MLAs raised slogans whenever the State Finance Minister raised the issue of Centre denying funds to the State. Every new allocation and announcement in the Budget was cheered by members of the Treasury Benches.
