State govt to set up welfare boards for Matua, Namasudra communities

Kolkata: Taking a major move for the development of Matua and Namasudra communities, the Mamata Banerjee government has taken the initiative to set up two welfare boards.

The decision to set up a welfare board for Namasudra community was taken earlier and on Monday the nod has been given by the cabinet in this connection. Besides the welfare board for Namasudras, the same for the Matua community will also be set up.

The two boards are West Bengal Namasudra Welfare Board and West Bengal Matua Welfare Board.

Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State for Health, and Jyotipriya Mallick, the state Food and Supplies minister, held a Press conference after the cabinet meeting in this connection. Bhattacharya said: "It has been unanimously accepted in the cabinet that West Bengal Namasudra Welfare Board and West Bengal Matua Welfare Board will be set up."

"The decision to set up the boards has been taken for socio-economic development of the communities," said Bhattacharya adding that the chairperson and members of the welfare boards will be decided by the Chief Minister.

It may be mentioned that the welfare boards will be taking all necessary steps to ensure further socio-economic development of the communities. It may be mentioned that there is a large a section of people from the communities in the state and setting up of the welfare boards will be of great support to them.

It may be mentioned that this is the first time when any state government has taken such a unique step for development of the communities. With the setting up of the welfare boards, there will be need specific development work and it will ensure better implementation of the development projects.