Bengal BJP Govt's first Budget announces DA hike, 1 lakh jobs and welfare push
The BJP government in West Bengal presented its first state budget, announcing a 20 percentage point increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees and pensioners, along with plans to fill one lakh vacancies across various departments.
Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta said the DA and Dearness Relief (DR) hike will take effect from October 1, raising the rate to 38 per cent. The government also announced recruitment for 20,000 police personnel and 50,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in schools, with 33 per cent of the jobs reserved for women.
The budget allocated Rs 36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, under which women aged 25 to 60 years will receive direct financial assistance in their bank accounts. An additional Rs 550 crore has been earmarked to provide free bus travel for women through a proposed Pink Card system.
Dasgupta said the government inherited a debt burden of Rs 8.15 lakh crore and pledged to restore fiscal discipline and transparent governance. He also announced that all existing welfare schemes would continue, with reforms introduced where necessary.
Among other measures, MLA Local Area Development Funds have been increased from Rs 70 lakh to ₹Rs 1 crore. Retired journalists will receive a monthly pension of Rs 5,000, while those jailed in allegedly politically motivated cases will get Rs 10,000 per month.
The budget also includes higher honorariums for anganwadi and ASHA workers, benefits for civic volunteers and gig workers, expansion of subsidised meal centres, infrastructure projects, a Tribal University in Jhargram, and the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Mission to promote innovation and emerging technologies.
