Mamata Banerjee announces measures for voters

Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced a slew of measures targeted at pleasing the people of rural Bengal.

They were announced days before the model code of conduct comes into play as the State Election Commission is all set to announce the notification for the Panchayat (village polls) polls.

Fully aware that the recent chit-fund scam had robbed the lifetime savings of thousands of people in the rural areas, Banerjee chose to ban online lotteries in the state. Considered to be a major source of menace among the rural poor, many have lost everything in their eagerness to become rich quickly.

The decision comes as online lottery companies in the state have been winding up due to the obligation of heavy taxes. The Trinamool Congress government has raised the tax on each lottery draw to Rs500,000 (Dh33,276) from Rs100,000.

“Online Lottery was started during the Left Front regime. It is a social problem. It had even led to fighting among members of families. We are banning it officially as we have done in the case of Gutka [chewing tobacco],” Banerjee told reporters. “Some people had started channels showing the online lottery. I am against those who have done this. One has got the freedom to go to the court against me to challenge the ban. I am not going to say anything regarding that,” she added.

The chief minister also announced a health insurance scheme with coverage of up to Rs125,000 for performing artistes and workers in the film studios. “We are announcing a health insurance scheme for performing artistes and workers in the film industry,” Banerjee told reporters.

This apart, the State Government also plans to provide a monthly allowance of Rs750 each to 4,000 folk artists. “At present, we are providing an annual allowance of Rs7,000 each to nearly 156 such folk artists. There are nearly 3,000-4,000 such artists. We plan to provide Rs750 a month to each of them,” she added. The list of artists would be finalised by the information and cultural affairs department. The services of these artistes will be used for advertising state government schemes through song, dance or instrumental music. They would be given additional fees for taking part in the publicity campaigns.

Banerjee also announced a separate department of tribal affairs, directly under her. “Tribal people have many grievances, but they don’t know where to lodge complaints to draw attention immediately. Therefore, a separate tribal affairs department will be created just like the minority affairs department and it will remain under me.”

State government is conducting a survey for gauging the extent of tribal land encroached upon in the state’s northern part. “Only 1,346 people in the Toto community in north Bengal are alive. Our government has started distributing 2kg of rice to each of them for free,” she said.

Promising her government would ensure tribals were not evicted from their plots, Banerjee said steps have also been taken to protect the tribal communities like Toto, Labha and Boro, which are facing extinction.