Mamata's Awas Yojana gambit opens a can of worms

In hundreds of villages across Bengal, protests have erupted over allegations of exclusion of names of beneficiaries in Banglar Awas Yojana.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

More than a year after the Central government halted the release of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) funds to West Bengal due to widespread irregularities, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's attempt to spin the narrative for political gain has opened a can of worms, with reports of widespread wrongdoing by her officials and party members spilling out.

In hundreds of villages across Bengal, protests have erupted over allegations of exclusion of names of beneficiaries in Banglar Awas Yojana. Protesting villagers gathered outside the offices of Block Development Officers (BDO) in different districts and alleged that their names as beneficiaries have been excluded at the behest of the local Trinamool Congress leadership. Protests have erupted in almost all districts like Purulia, Birbhum, Paschim Medinipur as well as South 24 Parganas, where the Trinamool Congress commands total control over the rural administration.

Before the general elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced with much fanfare that rather than "beg the Centre for funds" she would start the Bangla Awas Yojana with state funds.

Having gained electoral mileage, she announced that the state government would start the process from September with her own officials "verifying the list of eligible people that had been sent to the Centre". Under the Bangla Awas Yojana (BAY) scheme of the state, Rs 1.2 lakh is allocated to each beneficiary in three instalments. The first tranche of funds would be distributed to "eligible beneficiaries" by end-December, she said.