TMC government has done nothing for migrant workers, Congress will ensure direct money transfer if elected: Adhir Chowdhury | India News
KOLKATA: Lok Sabha Congressman Adhir Chowdhury said on Wednesday the party would provide a direct cash transfer to all the poor in the state if elected to power.
The congressman criticized West Bengal’s TMC government for failing to do anything for migrant workers who returned to the state during the lockdown.
Chowdhury said Congress discussed the proposal to transfer money directly to migrant workers in an effort to ensure that the poor have enough cash in the lockdown and post-lockdown situation and that the Center announced a Rs 50,000 crore project for them.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had advocated giving cash to every poor person in the country as a party poll pledge ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, he said.
“It was not an empty promise. In Chhatisgarh, we have already poured over 5,700 rupees into the pockets of every poor person. We will ensure that it is also implemented in West Bengal if we are elected to power. in the 2021 state elections, “said the congressman. noted.
He said this was due to the attitude of the West Bengal government that migrant workers from Bengal had not yet enjoyed the benefits of the central project, as the state had not sent the required list of districts with 25,000 migrant workers.
Expressing doubts that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “at all concerned” about the plight of migrant workers who left the state after the lockdown, he said in a video message: “Didi (Banerjee) has at least a thought for them. After suffering such severe financial distress while in confinement and returning to their home country, they had to leave as they found few job opportunities here. ”
Emphasizing that migrant workers contribute to the state’s economy by sending money to their families, Chowdhury, who is also the president of the WBPCC, said: “But you (Banerjee) don’t have time to think of them “.
He said: “State migrant workers are deprived of the central package because you did not send the names of districts with 25,000 migrant workers, which is a criterion to get the fund.
“While many other states like Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh have been able to benefit from the fund for their migrant workers by compiling the required list and sending it to the Center, West Bengal has played traun… Mamata Banerjee’s government doesn’t seem to have a plan for its own people, ”he said.
Comparing the announcement by the TMC government of several welfare campaigns ahead of the assembly ballot at the end of the season “sale of Chaitra” (discount offers from Bengal traders during the Hindu month of Chaitra to attract customers before the Bengali New Year), the congressman said “Suddenly, Didi woke up to people’s problems after ten years in power.”
“With the elections approaching, she (Banerjee) announces one project after another. From ‘Didi ke bolo’ (Tell Didi), to ‘Duare Sarkar’ (government at the door) to ‘Paray Paray Samadhan’ issues) .
“You (Banerjee) are talking about Swasthya Sathi. Do you believe in state health programs? Otherwise, why are your loved ones going to seek treatment abroad? ” he said.
Chowdhury alleged that the West Bengal government also does not care about the increase in commodity prices.
The Congress leader demanded that members of the Kurmi community living in Purulia receive ST status.
“Once I have raised the issue in Parliament and raised the issue with the Center. I was told that the Center will do its part once the government passes a resolution in the assembly to grant ST status to the Kurmi community. So please do what is necessary, ”he added.
The congressman criticized West Bengal’s TMC government for failing to do anything for migrant workers who returned to the state during the lockdown.
Chowdhury said Congress discussed the proposal to transfer money directly to migrant workers in an effort to ensure that the poor have enough cash in the lockdown and post-lockdown situation and that the Center announced a Rs 50,000 crore project for them.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had advocated giving cash to every poor person in the country as a party poll pledge ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha poll, he said.
“It was not an empty promise. In Chhatisgarh, we have already poured over 5,700 rupees into the pockets of every poor person. We will ensure that it is also implemented in West Bengal if we are elected to power. in the 2021 state elections, “said the congressman. noted.
He said this was due to the attitude of the West Bengal government that migrant workers from Bengal had not yet enjoyed the benefits of the central project, as the state had not sent the required list of districts with 25,000 migrant workers.
Expressing doubts that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “at all concerned” about the plight of migrant workers who left the state after the lockdown, he said in a video message: “Didi (Banerjee) has at least a thought for them. After suffering such severe financial distress while in confinement and returning to their home country, they had to leave as they found few job opportunities here. ”
Emphasizing that migrant workers contribute to the state’s economy by sending money to their families, Chowdhury, who is also the president of the WBPCC, said: “But you (Banerjee) don’t have time to think of them “.
He said: “State migrant workers are deprived of the central package because you did not send the names of districts with 25,000 migrant workers, which is a criterion to get the fund.
“While many other states like Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh have been able to benefit from the fund for their migrant workers by compiling the required list and sending it to the Center, West Bengal has played traun… Mamata Banerjee’s government doesn’t seem to have a plan for its own people, ”he said.
Comparing the announcement by the TMC government of several welfare campaigns ahead of the assembly ballot at the end of the season “sale of Chaitra” (discount offers from Bengal traders during the Hindu month of Chaitra to attract customers before the Bengali New Year), the congressman said “Suddenly, Didi woke up to people’s problems after ten years in power.”
“With the elections approaching, she (Banerjee) announces one project after another. From ‘Didi ke bolo’ (Tell Didi), to ‘Duare Sarkar’ (government at the door) to ‘Paray Paray Samadhan’ issues) .
“You (Banerjee) are talking about Swasthya Sathi. Do you believe in state health programs? Otherwise, why are your loved ones going to seek treatment abroad? ” he said.
Chowdhury alleged that the West Bengal government also does not care about the increase in commodity prices.
The Congress leader demanded that members of the Kurmi community living in Purulia receive ST status.
“Once I have raised the issue in Parliament and raised the issue with the Center. I was told that the Center will do its part once the government passes a resolution in the assembly to grant ST status to the Kurmi community. So please do what is necessary, ”he added.
