The newly established Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has taken a significant policy decision to discontinue financial allowances previously granted on religious grounds. This major move comes just nine days after the new administration assumed office, signaling a shift in the state's fiscal and social welfare priorities. The decision marks a departure from the practices of the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government regarding religious stipends.
Termination of Religious Stipends
During a cabinet meeting held on Monday, the West Bengal government decided that all existing aid schemes for Imams, Muezzins, and Priests based on religious categories will be terminated starting from June this year. These honorariums were previously administered under the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, as well as the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education. According to notifications from the previous TMC administration, these payments were intended to support the socio-economic conditions of religious leaders.
Minister for Women, Child Development, and Social Welfare, Agnimitra Paul, confirmed the cabinet's approval to end these schemes. She stated that a formal notification would be issued to indicate that the current state budgetary allocations for these specific religious categories would be abolished. However, the Minister clarified that this decision wouldn't affect students, as all existing scholarship schemes will remain operational without any interruptions.
Financial Impact and Previous Hikes
The financial assistance for religious leaders had seen a recent increase under the former Mamata Banerjee-led government. In March of this year, the previous administration had raised the honorarium by 500 rupees. Following that hike, registered Imams in West Bengal were receiving a monthly stipend of 3000 rupees, while Muezzins and Priests were being provided with 2000 rupees per month. With the new cabinet decision, these monthly payments will cease to exist from the upcoming month of June.
Launch of Annapurna Scheme for Women
In line with the BJP's pre-election promises to provide enhanced financial support to women in the state, the cabinet has given its approval to the 'Annapurna' scheme. Starting from June 1, eligible women will receive a monthly assistance of 3000 rupees. Minister Agnimitra Paul explained that women who are currently beneficiaries of the previous government's 'Lakshmi Bhandar' scheme will automatically be transitioned into the Annapurna scheme. These beneficiaries won't be required to re-apply, and the funds will be transferred directly into their bank accounts.
To ensure that no eligible woman is left out, the government plans to launch a dedicated web portal soon. This portal will allow new applicants, who weren't part of the previous assistance programs, to register for the Annapurna scheme. Also, the Minister clarified that women who have applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or those who have approached tribunals to include their names in the voter rolls will also be eligible to receive benefits under this program. Also, the cabinet has granted in-principle approval for free travel for women in state-run buses starting June 1.
OBC List Cancellation and 7th Pay Commission
In another major administrative overhaul, the cabinet has decided to cancel the existing State OBC list in accordance with a 2024 ruling by the Calcutta High Court. Minister Paul stated that the government would modify the state list of Other Backward Classes to align with the Division Bench's judgment delivered on May 22, 2024. This involves canceling certain categories and reservation percentages in state services and posts. A special panel will be constituted to determine the eligibility criteria for the state OBC category moving forward.
Also, the cabinet has approved the formation of the Seventh State Pay Commission to restructure the salary scales of government employees. This move fulfills a campaign promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had assured that a new pay commission would be implemented within 45 days of a BJP government taking charge in Bengal. The new salary structure will also extend to staff working in civic bodies, local bodies, education boards, and government-aided educational institutions. While the details of the commission's setup will be notified soon, the Minister noted that the issue of increased Dearness Allowance (DA) wasn't on the agenda for Monday's meeting.