Children up to age 12 won’t need to travel alone: DGCA

Promises of freebies, including a “universal basic income” of Rs 6,000 a year for the general public and Rs 12,000 for Scheduled Castes and Tribes and a million credit cards for students were announced on March 17 as Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee released her party’s manifesto for the assembly elections.

The money will be given to the female of the family in keeping with the policy of women empowerment emphasised by the Chief Minister.

Though it was not specifically outlined in the document, the mode of payment would probably be monthly.

The other mega announcement was issuing 10 lakh credit cards for “deserving students” at a concessional rate of 4% interest. The state government will stand as the guarantor for these cards, said the manifesto. It is supposed to help students in different needs for higher education.

In a move that is reminiscent of Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu, she also promised that 2,500 “Maa” canteens would be set up in 50 towns in the state that would offer meals for Rs 5. A total of 75 crore meals would be distributed every year through these canteens.

If voted to power, the quantum of income support for farmers in Krishak Bandhu scheme would be raised from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per year for per acre of land held by an individual. This would benefit 68 lakh small and marginal farmers, said the manifesto.

Piped water will be supplied to 47 lakh more families, thereby bringing 100% of the families under the ambit of this facility up from 26% now.

Power at concessional rates will be supplied to every household.

The party said it would help build 5 lakh dwelling units for the underprivileged under the scheme Banglar Bari and the share of slum dwellers would be brought down from 7% of the population to 3.5%.

The scheme Banglar Bari entitles the beneficiary to an assistance of Rs 2.79 lakh each for a dwelling unit of 25 square metre area to the homeless families in municipal areas.

Monthly ration will be delivered to the doorstep of the 1.5 crore households.

On the economy front, the Chief Minister made mega promises too.

“West Bengal is the sixth largest economy in the country with a GSDP (constant price) of Rs 7.93 Lakh crore (2019-2020)…. The state’s per capita income currently stands at Rs 1,09,491 in 2019. The year-on-year GSDP growth rate for the State has been 6.67% from the year 2015 to 2020. By further accelerating the growth trajectory, West Bengal will grow at an increased growth rate of 9%, making the State among the leading 5 economies in the country. The additional benefit arising out of this would lead to the doubling of per capita income to more than Rs 2.5 lakh,” read the manifesto.

“35 Lakh people uplifted to reduce below poverty line population to 5% from 20% in 2011 The State had 1.85 crore people living below the poverty line (2012)…. In the next five years, through inclusive growth and a comprehensive social safety net, West Bengal will uplift an additional 35 Lakh people from extreme poverty (2021-2026)… 5 Lakh new jobs per year to be created to halve the unemployment rate,” the document further stated.