Dues on central government schemes such as MNREGA, and lack of financial support during the Covid pandemic as well as Cyclone Amphan, were among the issues raised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee when she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday. Met Modi. He submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister highlighting that the Center owed more than Rs 1 lakh crore (estimated) to the West Bengal government, for timely release of these dues.
Mamata said, “A lot of money due to many development and welfare schemes… an estimate of Rs 1,00,968.44 crore is also due… With such a huge amount outstanding, the state is extremely stretched to run the affairs and take care of the people. There is a problem,” Mamata said. Memorandum addressed to Modi.
Mamata arrived in the national capital on Thursday on a four-day visit, and later met President Draupadi Murmu in Syria. The Twitter handle of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) shared a picture of the meeting between the two women and said: “Today our Honorable Chairperson and Chief Minister of West Bengal.
@MamataOfficial met Hon’ble President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmuji, in Delhi. Meeting Moments.”
Today, our Honorable Chairperson and Chief Minister of West Bengal @MamataOfficial Met the Honorable President of India Smt. At Draupadi Murmu, Delhi.
Meeting moments pic.twitter.com/XaXe6WwmfY
– All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) August 5, 2022
The chief minister met Modi at 4.30 pm, and the two discussed a number of issues related to his state, including GST dues and timely release of central funds under various schemes. The Prime Minister’s Office shared a photo of the meeting, which lasted about an hour.
CM of West Bengal @MamataOfficial Met PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/dvkHC7G8Ky
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 5, 2022
Mamata highlighted that with such huge sums of money, it is becoming difficult to run the state and take care of the people, especially the poor who are benefiting from central schemes like MNREGA, PM Awas Yojana and PM Gram Sadak Yojana. Most of the beneficiaries are
“I request the state to immediately release funds for implementation of schemes including MNREGA, PM Awas Yojana and PM Gram Sadak Yojana… about Rs 17,996 crore from the central government for these schemes,” the memorandum said. have dues,” the memorandum said.
The Chief Minister also said that the state has not received central funds to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic and natural calamities like Cyclone Yas and Amphan. “Our state has faced a critical period and has had to incur substantial expenses to deal with emergencies arising from natural calamities like the Covid pandemic, Yas and Amphan, for which central funds have been received,” the memorandum said. “Didn’t happen.”
He also mentioned that the state government had repeatedly informed the Center and requested it for immediate release of funds for proper implementation of rural employment scheme MNREGA, PM Awas Yojana and PM Gram Sadak Yojana. Intervention was requested.
In her memorandum, Mamata has tabulated the total amount due to the state under various schemes and benefits. As on July 31, 2022, the amount owed to the state by the central government is estimated to be around Rs 1,00,968.44 crore. The CM has often accused the BJP-led Center of delaying GST payments to states, especially those ruled by opposition parties.
After the meeting, Mamata directly went to meet President Murmu. She will also attend the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by Modi on August 7. She did not attend the meeting last year.
His meeting with the PM comes at a time when his government is facing severe criticism after the teacher recruitment scam and the role of his close aide Partha Chatterjee in it came to light. Chatterjee, who was sacked from the state cabinet and suspended from the TMC, is facing an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. While he maintained his innocence, the central agency seized a huge amount of cash and jewelery from the flat of his close associate Arpita Mukherjee.
However, it is not known whether the Bengal SSC scam was discussed during the meeting between Mamata and PM Modi.
The TMC has decided to abstain from the vice-presidential election on Saturday, so his visit to Delhi holds even more significance. The BJP-led NDA has fielded former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its vice-presidential candidate, while opposition parties have nominated Margaret Alva.
(with PTI input)
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