Stating that a large majority of people faced hardship and sufferings as demonetisation has had its own effect in Bengal, Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi praised the state government for its initiatives to provide relief to its people.
The Governor's remarks came when he inaugurated the Budget Session in the Assembly on Friday afternoon.
"Despite all adversities, my government has succeeded in minimising the inconveniences posed by the unprecedented challenge of demonetisation and all possible measures were adopted to provide some much needed relief to the cash-starved populace of the state," Tripathi said.
Appreciating the role of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to help people during demonetisation, Tripathi said: "My Chief Minister has left no stone unturned in her untiring effort to keep the morale of the people high in these trying times."
Mentioning the huge debt burden left behind by the erstwhile Left Front government, he praised the Mamata Banerjee government's efforts, saying that despite "the recent adverse effect of demonetisation in reducing the state's revenue earnings, my government has been able to achieve all development milestones. Even this year, my government has to pay nearly Rs 40,000 crore for payment of interest and repayment of loan of the previous Left Front regime."
Hardships faced by workers of organised sectors due to demonetisation were also pointed out by the Governor in his speech at the beginning of the Budget Session in the Assembly on Friday. "The state government is apprehensive of a substantial fall in revenue income. Lakhs of workers have lost their jobs and livelihood. Hardest hit are the small and medium industries, beedi, jute and tea garden workers, traders, shopkeepers and workers of unorganised sectors," Tripathi stated.
Pointing out the woes of farmers due to demonetisation, he said: "Farmers of the state are also facing difficulties. Co-operatives are badly hit, for which agricultural activities are suffering due to unavailability of cash and credit."
Stating the Supreme Court's verdict in favour of farmers in Singur as a "landmark judgement", Tripathi said: "The rights of the farmers of Singur to their agricultural land were restored, vindicating the farmers' mass movement against acquisition of tilling land for industry."
"The government has also resolved to carry forward its plan of implementing the pro-people policies, especially directed towards the upliftment of the downtrodden and marginal sections of the society with renewed vigour," said Tripathi.
He also lauded the state government's role in fulfilling aspirations of the people of Bengal by bringing about an ambience of all-inclusive economic prosperity, coupled with industrial revival and agricultural growth.
Left Front MLAs, meanwhile, raised protests as soon as the Governor began to deliver his speech, protesting against the Bhangar incident in which two persons were shot dead.