West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged the Centre to route NREGA funds through post offices in places where there are no banks.
“There are 1,000 panchayats in the state where there are no banks. So, it is difficult to disburse the NREGA funds among poor people living in these places as the Centre was <g data-gr-id="24">routing</g> the money through banks only,” she said.
Banerjee said her government was asking the Centre to either set up bank branches in these unbanked panchayats or route the money through post offices. She added her government was offering space in the panchayat offices at a token rent of Re 1 for banks to open branches. “Earlier, the state had emerged number one in 100 days work,” she said, adding that the scope was curtailed now.
She said, “I have completed 90 such meetings and am glad to learn that so much progress has been made in the state, which I have come to know from these visits.”
The CM said she has asked the Centre to increase the procurement of jute bags for government packages to revive jute industry in the state. “We have requested Centre to revive the jute industry
by placing more orders. Centre is not procuring jute bags,” she said.
Banerjee is likely to visit London in July on British PM Davin Cameron’s invitation.
‘Maintain status quo on polls in 7 municipalities’
The Apex Court has stayed the holding of elections in seven municipal areas in West Bengal on the plea of the state government that these bodies are in the process of being converted into municipal corporations. The court issued a notice to the state election panel on the plea of state government challenging a Calcutta High Court order, and said the “status quo” with regard to holding of elections in seven municipal areas be maintained.