Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that the state’s job guarantee programme, currently known as ‘Karmashree’, will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi, underlining what she described as the need to uphold the legacy of the Father of the Nation. The announcement was made while addressing a large public gathering at Dhono Dhanno Stadium in Kolkata.
Mamata said the state government had launched its own employment scheme to provide 70 to 75 days of assured work, aimed at supporting livelihoods at the grassroots level. She stated that the programme would now carry Mahatma Gandhi’s name as a mark of respect, asserting that the values associated with him should remain central to public policy and governance.
Taking a sharp swipe at the Centre, the Chief Minister said it was “unfortunate” that Mahatma Gandhi’s name was being sidelined from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). She remarked that her government believes in honouring national icons and listed several prominent leaders and reformers whose contributions, she said, deserve equal respect across communities.
Highlighting her government’s development agenda, Mamata Banerjee said West Bengal has rolled out multiple employment-oriented initiatives and continues to focus on job creation despite financial constraints. She pointed to the proposed Deucha Pachami coal mining project, claiming it would generate large-scale employment, and announced progress on an International Information Technology, Entertainment and Cultural Park at Rajarhat, where tenders have already been floated. According to her, the project will be developed in phases and will have the capacity to host large cultural events.
The Chief Minister also alleged that despite development work, attempts are being made to malign her government and the Trinamool Congress. She added that state projects are being pushed forward even as central funds remain blocked.
Separately, Mamata Banerjee said she has ordered a detailed inquiry into the recent major fire incident in New Town, North 24 Parganas, which reportedly rendered more than 100 families homeless. She assured that responsibility would be fixed and relief measures strengthened.
