West Bengal ends religion-based clergy aid
The West Bengal cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has decided to end assistance schemes for imams, muezzins, and temple priests that are based on religious categorisation. From June, new schemes will not use religion as a criterion.
“The cabinet has approved discontinuation of schemes based on religious categorisation, with a new notification outlining approaches that do not identify beneficiaries by religion to be issued,” Women, Child and Social Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul said. She indicated relevant State budgetary allocations could also be adjusted accordingly.
She added that none of the existing scholarship schemes for students would be discontinued.
In March, the previous Mamata Banerjee Government increased the honorarium for religious leaders by Rs 500. Imams of registered mosques received Rs 3,000 per month, while muezzins and purohits received Rs 2,000 per month.
The cabinet has approved the ‘Annapurna’ scheme, which will give women in West Bengal Rs 3,000 per month from June 1. The cabinet also gave 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 announced the scrapping of the existing state OBC list. This decision is based on a Calcutta High Court judgment.
The minister also announced that the cabinet has approved the constitution of the Seventh State Pay Commission to revise the salary structure of Government employees.
She, however, confirmed that the issue of granting increased dearness allowance (DA) to state employees was not on the agenda of Monday’s meeting.
“The cabinet gave its in-principle nod to the ‘Annapurna’ scheme of Rs 3,000 monthly assistance to women from June 1. Those currently receiving assistance under the previous Government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will automatically be eligible for the Annapurna Yojana. There is no need to reapply. Money will be sent through direct bank transfer,” Paul said.
The Government will launch a web portal to help new applicants who have not yet received assistance.
“Women who applied for citizenship under the CAA and those who approached the tribunals for inclusion of names in voter rolls will also be entitled to receive the Annapurna scheme benefit,” the minister clarified.
Paul said the cabinet approved a proposal allowing women to travel for free on Government-run buses from June 1.
The cabinet does not plan to increase the number of buses at this time. The State Pay Commission was to revise the salaries of its employees, stating that the scope of the pay hike would also extend to staff of statutory entities such as civic bodies and local bodies, education boards, and those working in state-run educational institutions.
“The details of the commission’s set-up will be duly notified,” she said, without specifying its date of implementation.
In his pre-election campaigns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pledged that the new pay commission would be implemented within 45 days of the BJP Government’s formation in Bengal.
Announcing yet another significant cabinet decision, Paul said that the new BJP Government would cancel the state’s existing OBC list. This move is in accordance with a 2024 Calcutta High Court judgment.
Paul said the cabinet decided to revise and cancel the current OBC list and quota percentages as per the May 22, 2024, Calcutta High Court judgment.
The minister announced that the state will form a panel to determine eligibility for the OBC quota. The list’s controversy centres on the inclusion of 77 communities. Of these, 75 are Muslim. Their inclusion into the state’s Other Backwards Classes (OBC) list was initiated during the TMC regime.
The decision sparked major political and legal battles. The Calcutta High Court cancelled the notice and invalidated nearly 5 lakh caste certificates issued since 2010.
