West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee distributes watches to a beneficiary during the public distribution programme, at Siliguri in Jalpaiguri on May 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Emphasising her track record of fulfilling promises, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (May 20, 2025) announced that 12 lakh beneficiaries have received the second instalment of Banglar Bari — a scheme aimed at providing houses to the rural poor.
“We had given 50% of the funds earlier promising that the remaining will be disbursed in May. Today, we have completed it. If we make promises, we keep them too,” the Chief Minister said.
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Ms. Banerjee had announced the Banglar Bari scheme in December 2024 after the disbursement of funds under the PM Awaas Yojana to the State was halted.
“The remaining 16 lakh beneficiaries from the list will get (the instalment) of the first phase in December whereas the second phase will commence in May 2026. In total, 28 lakh beneficiaries will be getting benefits of the scheme,” she said.
Support for tea garden workers
Speaking at a public event in North Bengal, the Chief Minister said her government stood firmly with tea garden workers. “A lot of people claim they will give a lot of things but why didn’t they do so all these years? They are nowhere to be seen during any leopard attacks yet make tall claims,” she remarked.
Ms. Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of reneging on its promise to reopen tea gardens. “Ahead of elections, I remember a BJP leader saying that they would reopen all tea gardens. But they couldn’t even reopen one. I want to thank Moloy Ghatak, Gautam, Prakash Chik Baraik, Ganga Prasad Sharma, and others for reopening eight tea gardens in Alipurduar and seven tea gardens in Jalpaiguri. Before this, 59 tea gardens were reopened by us,” the Trinamool Congress chairperson added.
The Chief Minister’s remarks carry significance as the opposition BJP is considered politically strong in the region.
Ms. Banerjee noted that under her government, the wages of tea garden workers have risen to ₹250.
“Free ration, water, electricity, healthcare facilities, and other necessities were arranged. Tea garden workers are getting pattas. Financial assistance is being given under the Chaa Sundari Extension Scheme. Over 8,000 and 13,000 families in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar respectively are getting benefits under this scheme,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson also lauded her government’s Lakshmi Bhandar scheme. “Not just across the country but across the world, we were the ones who started Lakshmir Bhandar and it will continue for life. It is the dignity of our mothers, sisters, and women,” she added.
Published – May 21, 2025 08:03 am IST