The West Bengal government on Monday decided that the targeted assistance schemes currently in place based on religious classification of imams, muezzins and purohits will be discontinued from June this year.
“The Cabinet has agreed to stop the schemes on the basis of religious classification. A notification will be issued in this regard,” Women, Children and Social Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul said, noting that the current state budget allocations for the scheme could be cancelled.
She added that none of the current scholarship programs for students will be stopped.
The honors offered under the departments of Information, Cultural Affairs, Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education to religious leaders are intended to bolster their socio-economic standing, according to a notification issued by the erstwhile TMC-led government in the state.
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Follow a $500 increase in fees for religious leaders by the previous Mamata Banerjee government in March this year, and imams of registered mosques in Bengal were given a monthly stipend of Rs. $3000 with the provision of muezzins and borohit $2000.
Suvendu guvt is acting on pre-election promises
Building on the BJP’s pre-poll promises to boost financial assistance to women in West Bengal, the Cabinet approved the ‘Annapurna’ scheme, which provides… $3,000 monthly subsidy from June 1, and granted in-principle approval for free travel for women on state-run buses.
Addressing a press conference after the second Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Paul also announced the cancellation of the existing OBC list in the state in line with the Calcutta High Court ruling.
The Minister also announced the Cabinet’s approval to form the Seventh State Wages Committee to review the salary structure of government employees.
Announcing another major Cabinet decision, Paul said the new BJP government will do away with the existing OBC list as per the 2024 Calcutta High Court ruling.
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The seventh pay commission was also announced
But Paul confirmed that the issue of granting the increased cost allowance to state employees was not on the agenda of Monday’s meeting.
“The government has given its in-principle approval for the Annapurna scheme $3,000 monthly assistance to women starting June 1. Those who are currently receiving assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme launched by the previous government will automatically be entitled to Annapurna Yojna. There is no need to re-apply for this. “The money will be sent through direct bank transfer,” Paul said.
Announcing the formation of the Seventh State Pay Commission for upward review of salaries of state employees, Paul said the scope of the pay hike would also extend to employees of statutory entities such as civic bodies, local bodies, education boards and employees of state-run educational institutions.
During his pre-election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that the new pay commission would be implemented within 45 days of the formation of the BJP government in Bengal.
