Barun Ray to take charge of state monitoring cell

Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government on Tuesday appointed an IAS officer to take charge of the recently constituted monitoring cell for proper implementation of government schemes and to probe allegations of taking money (referred to as cut money) against giving benefits under the schemes.

IAS Barun Ray, the 1992 batch officer who has been given the charge of the cell, was posted as commissioner,

Malda division. Ray has also been transferred to the post of commissioner, Burdwan division.

He will hold the charge of OSD at the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in the rank of principal secretary in charge of Monitoring of Programme Implementation and Grievance Cell.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had opened the cell for "Programme Implementation of Government Schemes and Redressal of Grievances/Complaints" and announced a toll-free number for lodging complaints. The cell has received 1,500 complaints so far.

Once a beneficiary from the districts raises his/her issue with the CMO through email at wbcmro@gmail.com, it will be thoroughly examined and replied to within 10 days.

The new and unprecedented approach is aimed at refining the whole delivery mechanism system of

the schemes in the state.

The fundamental objective

of the move is to reach out to the marginalised benefici-

aries.

Colonel (retired) Diptangshu Chowdhury, who heads the cell, has visited the districts and interacted

with the beneficiaries who have been denied government welfare scheme benefits or harassed while receiving such benefits.

The state government has asked police superintendents to initiate cases on complaints of accepting cut money under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code, which calls for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.