Interacting with reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna after disbursing enhanced old-age pensions to beneficiaries, he said that with a BJP government in place now, the state has joined all Central schemes.
“Funds are flowing in, and more will come,” he said.
The old-age pension has been increased from Rs 1,000 per month to Rs 1,500 for each beneficiary.
“West Bengal is not in a good financial condition owing to fiscal mismanagement by previous governments. Revenue loss, theft, and failure to join Central schemes have turned the state practically bankrupt,” Adhikari said.
“We are still in a bad shape and need at least one year to come out of the financial distress,” he said.
Highlighting his government’s financial prudence, the chief minister asserted the state exchequer will get nearly 18 per cent more revenue this financial year compared to the previous fiscal.”If we are successful in plugging revenue loss, then the state’s earnings will increase further,” he said.
About the BJP’s poll promise of doubling benefits under schemes for the elderly and specially-abled people, Adhikari said the doles were being increased to Rs 1,500 this year owing to the poor financial health of the state.
A hike in the amount would be considered if the fiscal situation improves, he added.
Adhikari said no one wants to see a non-deserving person get government benefits. “You will be surprised to know that a man in Paschim Medinipur district’s Chandrakona was availing widow pension. He has been arrested.”
Asserting that the government will ensure only eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits, he said the state will provide benefits under a scheme for the elderly to 50,000 new entrants following the deletion of false entries through the SIR of electoral rolls.
Announcing that he was cancelling waitlists of beneficiaries for various welfare schemes prepared by the previous government, the chief minister said, “Those who registered their names in our public welfare camps will be given priority following verification of their credentials.”
“The wait list prepared by the previous government is cancelled from today,” Adhikari said, adding that a new wait list will be prepared from among those who applied for welfare benefits after the present dispensation assumed charge of the state.
About the old-age pension scheme, Adhikari said the Panchayat and Rural Development department was facilitating the disbursement of the enhanced amount to 20.48 lakh of the 82.05 lakh beneficiaries. The Women and Child Development and Social Welfare department was facilitating the payment to 61.57 lakh people, he said.
A total expenditure of Rs 14,771 crore will be incurred for these payments, the chief minister said.
He announced the government would hold public welfare camps in November or December, accepting new applications to avail benefits of various schemes. “Those waiting for a long time to register their names in the old-age pension scheme, but could not do so due to political or other reasons, will be included in it.”
Adhikari also urged beneficiaries of the widow pension scheme below the age of 60 to surrender the benefit and instead opt for the Annapurna Yojana, under which each beneficiary will receive financial assistance of Rs 3,000.
He asserted that 1.48 crore women received money under the Annapurna Yojana in August. This month, the amount would be deposited in the bank accounts of beneficiaries on September 17, the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adhikari added.
