Ahmedabad Times

The BJP authorities in West Bengal has, inside days of assuming workplace, rolled out a collection of high-impact administrative, welfare and governance selections aimed toward signalling a coverage break from the earlier Trinamool Congress regime. The measures span welfare restructuring, recruitment reforms, reservation coverage adjustments, scrutiny of caste certificates, instructional directives and anti-corruption motion. The federal government has concurrently tried to strengthen nationalist symbolism in establishments whereas tightening administrative oversight in welfare supply and reservation methods. Lots of the strikes carry each political and authorized significance, particularly these linked to OBC reservation, caste certificates verification and investigations into alleged corruption beneath their predecessor.

‘Hen’s Neck’ hall transferred to Centre

The West Bengal authorities accepted the switch of seven key nationwide highways within the Siliguri Hall, popularly often known as the ‘Hen’s Neck’, to central companies, a transfer aimed toward strengthening connectivity and facilitating sooner motion of armed forces via the strategically delicate stretch linking the Northeast to mainland India.

Ayushman Bharat to be applied

The newly shaped BJP authorities in West Bengal introduced the implementation of the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat medical health insurance scheme throughout its first cupboard assembly on Could 11. Below Ayushman Bharat, eligible households obtain annual medical health insurance protection of as much as Rs 5 lakh for secondary and tertiary healthcare remedy at empanelled hospitals.West Bengal had beforehand stayed out of the centrally sponsored scheme beneath the Trinamool Congress authorities, which as an alternative operated the Swasthya Sathi programme. The choice marks a major coverage shift by aligning the state with one of many Union authorities’s flagship welfare schemes. Together with Ayushman Bharat, the cupboard additionally mentioned implementation of different central schemes and administrative measures, together with border fencing-related land switch to the BSF and recruitment reforms.

Annapurna Yojna replaces Lakshmir Bhandar

The West Bengal authorities notified the Annapurna Yojna on Wednesday, changing the flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme launched beneath the earlier TMC authorities. Below the brand new programme, eligible girls aged between 25 and 60 years will obtain a month-to-month help of Rs 3,000 via Direct Profit Switch into Aadhaar-linked financial institution accounts. The scheme excludes everlasting authorities workers, pensioners and earnings tax payers. Present Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will robotically migrate to the brand new scheme, although names recognized as lifeless, shifted, duplicate or deleted throughout voter verification workouts will likely be eliminated. The federal government has additionally linked the scheme to electoral verification processes, making it politically vital. A web-based portal for contemporary purposes is scheduled to open from June 1, with district magistrates and Kolkata civic authorities designated as sanctioning our bodies for candidates.

Vande Mataram made obligatory in faculties

The Faculty Training Division directed all state-run and state-aided faculties to mandatorily sing Vande Mataram throughout morning assemblies via a communication issued on Could 13 and applied from Could 18 onward. Faculty authorities had been instructed to make sure participation by all college students and keep video documentation as proof of compliance.The transfer provides the nationwide tune to the prevailing meeting practices the place faculties historically sang solely the nationwide anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and in recent times, the state tune Banglar Mati Banglar Jol. The choice carries robust symbolic and ideological significance because the BJP authorities has framed it as an effort to strengthen patriotism and respect for nationwide symbols. Nonetheless, the transfer has additionally generated debate amongst sections of academics and civil society over implementation logistics and considerations about compulsion in instructional establishments.

Land switch for India-Bangladesh border fencing

The West Bengal authorities on Could 11 initiated the method of transferring land to the Union Ministry of Residence Affairs for the Border Safety Drive to finish fencing alongside unfenced stretches of the India-Bangladesh border, the CM had introduced earlier this month.Asserting the choice after the primary cupboard assembly of the brand new authorities, CM Suvendu Adhikari stated the required land can be handed over inside 45 days. The transfer comes amid extended judicial scrutiny over delays in border fencing tasks within the state. In response to knowledge positioned earlier than the Supreme Courtroom by the Union authorities, round 435 km of the border stays unfenced, with greater than 286 km pending primarily due to land acquisition points. The Calcutta excessive courtroom had additionally directed the state earlier this 12 months to expedite switch of acquired land to the BSF.

OBC reservation revised for 66 communities

The federal government notified 66 communities beneath the Different Backwards Lessons class, restoring a 7 per cent reservation framework following a Calcutta Excessive Courtroom order that had struck down earlier TMC-era OBC notifications. The choice, formally notified on Could 19 and applied publicly on Could 20, impacts authorities jobs and academic admissions. The revised checklist consists of communities comparable to Kurmi, Kapali, Teli, Yadav and a number of other Muslim teams together with Hajjam (Muslim), Pahadia Muslim and Jolah (Ansari-Momin). The transfer is critical as a result of it rolls again the earlier 17 per cent reservation construction and aligns the state coverage with the Excessive Courtroom’s directive that advantages already loved by the affected teams ought to proceed with out disruption.

Free bus journey for ladies

The state cupboard, on on Monday accepted free bus journey for ladies in state-run transport companies. The transfer is being projected as a significant women-centric welfare measure aimed toward decreasing day by day commuting prices and growing workforce participation. The scheme is predicted to cowl government-operated buses throughout city and rural routes. It was introduced as a part of the federal government’s first main welfare package deal after assuming workplace.

Higher age restrict for presidency jobs elevated

On Could 18, the Finance Division formally elevated the higher age restrict for recruitment to state authorities posts by 5 years, fulfilling one of many BJP’s main guarantees to job aspirants. Below the revised guidelines, the higher age restrict is now 41 years for Group A posts, 44 years for Group B posts and 45 years for Group C and D posts. For recruitments via statutory our bodies, authorities firms and native authorities, the age restrict has been uniformly fastened at 45 years. Present relaxations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs and differently-abled candidates will proceed. The primary recruitment course of anticipated to learn from the choice is the continuing Assistant Professor recruitment in government-aided faculties, for which the appliance deadline will even be prolonged. The transfer is aimed toward increasing employment alternatives for candidates who had beforehand crossed the age threshold throughout years of delayed recruitment and stalled examinations within the state.

Free bus journey for ladies

The West Bengal cupboard accepted free bus journey for ladies in state-run transport companies on Monday as a part of a set of early welfare measures introduced after the brand new authorities assumed workplace. The scheme will apply to government-operated buses throughout city and rural routes within the state. In response to officers, the initiative is aimed toward easing commuting prices for ladies who depend on public transport for work, schooling and day by day journey. The choice is predicted to influence a big part of standard commuters, notably in Kolkata and district cities the place state transport companies kind a significant a part of public mobility. The announcement got here alongside different welfare measures, together with the rollout of the Annapurna Yojna. Detailed operational tips and implementation modalities for the transport scheme are anticipated to be issued by the Transport Division individually.

Prosecution sanctioned towards Sandip Ghosh

The West Bengal authorities sanctioned the prosecution of former R G Kar Medical School and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh on Could 19 in reference to alleged monetary irregularities linked to procurement and administrative practices throughout his tenure. The sanction was granted beneath provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Cash Laundering Act after examination of FIRs and investigation information. The case gained nationwide prominence following the rape and homicide of a physician on the hospital in 2024, which subsequently triggered wider investigations into alleged corruption inside the establishment. The CBI and Enforcement Directorate are probing the matter after the Calcutta Excessive Courtroom ordered an inquiry.

Re-verification of caste certificates issued since 2011

The West Bengal authorities ordered a state-wide re-verification of all caste certificates issued since 2011, with the Backward Lessons Welfare Division issuing instructions to district magistrates on Could 15. The train covers practically 1.69 crore Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and OBC certificates, together with these distributed via Duare Sarkar camps through the earlier TMC regime. The federal government has alleged large-scale irregularities and fraudulent issuance of certificates over the previous 15 years, with ministers claiming that faux beneficiaries availed reservation and welfare advantages illegally. Officers have been instructed to scrutinise certificates and cancel these discovered to have been issued via false data or procedural violations.

Scrapping religion-based support schemes

The brand new authorities had additionally introduced that a number of religion-specific welfare and grant schemes launched through the TMC regime can be discontinued. Although particulars are nonetheless rising, BJP leaders stated the transfer was aimed toward ending what they described as “appeasement politics” and shifting in the direction of religion-neutral welfare supply. The choice is politically vital as a result of it immediately targets one of many BJP’s central marketing campaign themes in Bengal.