KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced to launch a new programme namely ‘Amader Para Amader Samadhan’ (Our Neighbourhood Our Solution). The program is aimed at addressing issues in various localities, both in urban and rural areas across the state.
The project with an allocation of Rs 8,000 crore will commence from August 2 and be completed within 60 days.
Banerjee said, “We will be launching a small project 'Amader Para, Amader Samadhan'. A dedicated task force will be formed, headed by the Chief Secretary, to monitor it. Task forces will be constituted at both district and state levels. Police will also be involved to maintain law and order and ensure smooth coordination and implementation.”
According to political observers, the government has decided to launch this new programme with an eye on the Assembly elections, due next year.
Claiming that ‘Amader Para, Amader Samadhan’ is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Chief Minister explained, “Many times, we notice that there are small issues — like setting up a tap or an electric pole — that need attention in localities. We have provided electricity to many areas, but by chance, some places may have been left out. For such minor issues, we are taking up this programme.”
“Even though it may seem small, the coverage is huge. The PM keeps talking about Atmanirbhar, but it doesn’t translate into reality. The State has to do everything on its own,” she added.
The State Government officials will be present on the ground to listen to people’s concerns. Each centre will cover three booths, forming one unit per locality. With around 80,000 booths, the programme will take about two months to complete, Banerjee stated.
“We have sanctioned a special fund for this initiative. An amount of Rs 10 lakh will be allocated for every booth. In total, the Government will spend over Rs 8,000 crore on this programme,” she announced.