Governor's speech marks start of three-day Budget session

Kolkata: A three-day Budget session in the Assembly started on Friday with the Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi delivering his inaugural address.

When Tripathi was giving a detailed account of various development schemes introduced or run by the Bengal government in past one year, the Opposition party MLAs created a ruckus at the Assembly. They shouted slogans demanding a four-day discussion on the Governor speech.

However, the Governor continued with his speech unperturbed and gave a detailed account of the achievements of the state government. It may be mentioned here that a state government spokesperson on Thursday categorically mentioned that the discussion on the Governor speech would take place during the latter half of the current session in the Assembly.

Despite the government assurances, the Opposition party MLAs staged demonstration inside the Assembly.

State Finance minister Amit Mitra would present the state budget on Monday and discussion on the budget would take place in detail on Tuesday.

Terming Bengal government's 'Krishak Bandhu' scheme as a landmark

scheme, the Governor said under the scheme yearly financial assistance to the tune of Rs 5,000 would be given to the farmers per acre and also a death benefit package of Rs 2 lakh per to farmers belonging to the age group between 18-60 years.

More than 72 lakh farmers will receive the benefit under the scheme. The total project cost has been estimated to be around Rs 7,000 crore.

State Agriculture minister Asish Banerjee said the disbursement of cheques to the farmers would be completed in the current month.

Around 38,000 cheques have already been distributed among the farmers since the project had been announced by the Chief Minister few months ago. Banerjee said that around 80,000 farmers have already registered themselves under this scheme.