CM Mamata's flagship programme erodes powers of panchayats

For the residents of West Bengal's Sundarbans region, climate change and poverty are two sides of the same coin.

While Taposi Haldar (30), a resident of Damkal Kuimai village in South 24 Parganas district, has had her share of problems with these two, corruption has also had an impact on her.

Taposi earns Rs 100 to 400 when she goes fishing once in four to five days. Her husband Sanat Haldar works in a potato godown in Jalpaiguri. Though her income is meagre, she was forced to cough up Rs 600 as a bribe to digitalise her ration card.

"Our panchayat member does not hear us. We expect good housing and construction of river embankments to prevent breaches during cyclones," says Taposi, a mother of four.

The work on embankments were part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, which became defunct in the state one and a half years ago due to the Centre-state tussle. This has not only affected works, but also the livelihood of lakhs of MGNREGA workers.

Hailing from Taposi's village, Sanatan Haldar (26) and his wife Joba Haldar (25) still await payment of dues for the work done under the scheme. Joba says they sustain by catching fish and crabs these days, while she also gets Rs 500 every month under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The government provides five kg ration rice for each family member.

"Everything happens as per the state government's wish now. Two months ago, the Duare Sarkar programme was held in Nagendrapur, our panchayat. Earlier, gram sansad used to meet and make decisions on local issues," says Sanatan.

Under the Duare Sarkar (government at doorstep) outreach programme, camps are organised to deliver services and enlist beneficiaries under at least 11 welfare schemes run by the Mamata Banerjee government.