Siliguri (WB), Nov 22 (PTI) West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee today expressed concern over the slow progressof work on its 'Kanyashree' project for minor girls in northBengal's three districts and said she had information thatbeneficiaries were not receiving their dues.
Banerjee was interacting with district officials here at'Uttarkanya', the mini-secretariat of North Bengal, to takestock of development projects in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar andCoochbehar.
"Kanyashree is the pride of Bengal. It has been acclaimedinternationally. But the pace of implementation of the projectis not up to expectations. Why is that so," the chief ministerasked the district magistrates (DM).
The project, launched by the state government in 2013, isa cash transfer scheme aimed at retaining girls in schools anddiscouraging them from getting married before they are 18.
Banerjee also asked the officials to keep vigil on borderareas and take foolproof security measures.
She expressed concern over the challenges faced by teaestates in Alipurduar and asked the DM to resolve the watercrisis in the plantations.
"The Centre is doing little to help the labourers of teaestates, but we are committed to helping them. Solve the watercrisis in the tea gardens at the earliest," she told theAlipurduar officials.
Banerjee also asked the Chief Medical Officer of Health(CMOH) of Jalpaiguri to cross-check facts before taking actionagainst doctors of state-run medical establishments.
"I have information that you recently show-caused manydoctors of the Jalpaiguri Sadar Hospital. Before taking anypunitive action against a person, you should hear his sideof the story too," she said.
Expressing concern over deaths in elephant attacks inAlipurduar, Banerjee said the district administration shouldframe a plan of action to prevent man-elephant conflicts.
The CM also noted that 25,000 people were yet to getdigital ration cards in Coochbehar and directed the officialsto expedite work on 100-day projects for employment generationin the rural belts.
A meeting of top officials of all districts will be heldon December 4 at Nabanna, the state secretariat said. PTI SUSRMSBDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.