CM Suvendu Adhikari's First Cabinet Meet Tomorrow: Ayushman Bharat, ₹3000 Women's Scheme on Agenda

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to chair his first cabinet meeting on Monday at the state secretariat, Nabanna. Following his swearing-in ceremony on Saturday, this will mark his first official visit to Nabanna as the Chief Minister, while the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government in West Bengal under his leadership is slated for 12:00 PM, although some administrative schedules indicate the meeting could begin as early as 11:30 AM. The session is expected to focus on the approval of the Ayushman Bharat scheme and the resumption of various central projects that were previously stalled. The five ministers who took the oath alongside the Chief Minister will also be in attendance.

Approval of Ayushman Bharat and Central Projects

According to sources, the primary agenda of the cabinet meeting is to clear the path for central projects that lacked approval under the previous administration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier stated that the Ayushman Bharat scheme would be approved in the very first cabinet meeting of the new government. Monday's meeting is likely to grant this official approval, while Also, the cabinet will review other central initiatives that the BJP had alleged were blocked by the Mamata government due to political reasons, causing losses to the people of the state.

Annapurna Bhandar and Financial Aid for Women

The cabinet is also likely to deliberate on the implementation of the 'Annapurna Bhandar' scheme, as promised in the BJP's election manifesto. This scheme envisions providing monthly financial assistance of ₹3000 to women in the state. Amid concerns regarding the existing 'Lakshmi भंडार' and the declining acceptance of 'Swasthya Sathi' cards in private hospitals, the administration may consider launching the project under a different name to ensure easy financial benefits for women. The meeting will address the issues surrounding the previous government's schemes to ensure continued support for beneficiaries.

High-Level Administrative and Police Reviews

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is set to conduct three major meetings at Nabanna on Monday, while apart from the cabinet session, he will hold a review meeting with top administrative officials. This will be followed by a meeting with District Magistrates (DMs) in the afternoon. Plus, the CM will meet with high-ranking police officials, including the Director General of Police (DG), the Kolkata Police Commissioner, and other senior officers from various zones. These meetings aim to streamline the administration and review the law and order situation across the state.

Security Inspection and Emergency Briefing at Nabanna

In preparation for the Chief Minister's arrival, the Kolkata and Howrah police conducted a thorough security inspection of Nabanna on Sunday. Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nanda and Howrah's Akhilesh Chaturvedi visited the secretariat on Sunday afternoon to review the arrangements. Accompanied by several senior police personnel, they inspected the premises, the Chief Minister's security detail, and the meeting halls. Following the inspection, Ajay Nanda and Akhilesh Chaturvedi held an emergency security meeting at the Nabanna meeting hall to finalize the protection protocols for the upcoming high-level sessions.