The BJP-led West Bengal government presented its first budget on Monday, allocating the highest ever amount of Rs 52,308 crore to the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare. The budget also announced a 38% dearness allowance for state employees, recruitment for one lakh vacant posts, and a new AIIMS in north Bengal.
Key Allocations and Schemes
Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, presenting the budget, said the government's mission is to restore the state’s glory and build 'Viksit' Bengal as part of 'Viksit' Bharat. The Rs 52,308 crore for women includes Rs 36,000 crore allocated for the Annapurana Yojana, under which eligible women beneficiaries will receive Rs 3,000 per month. The Panchayats and Rural Development Department received the second-highest allocation at Rs 51,836 crore, followed by the School Education Department with Rs 44,948.21 crore.
Job Creation and Recruitment
Dasgupta announced that the government will recruit one lakh people for various vacant posts, with 33% reserved for women. Additionally, 20,000 seats in the state police force will be filled. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said after the budget announcement, “The first area of creation of jobs is the government sector. We have said that one lakh government jobs will be filled in this financial year.” He also noted that private investments above Rs 100 crore will not require local-level permission, and incentives for industries have been reintroduced with a Rs 5,000 crore allocation.
Infrastructure and Education
The budget proposes a second greenfield airport near Kolkata, to be built on 1,000-1,500 acres near Kalyani in Nadia district, to decongest the existing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. On education, plans include an IIT, an IIM, and an AIIMS in north Bengal. The number of MBBS seats will increase by 650, and post-graduate medical seats by 450. A new Ayush department was also announced.
Welfare and Pensions
Pensions for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities have been hiked by Rs 500 per month. Remuneration for para-teachers, civic volunteers, and green police will also increase. The government allocated Rs 14,000 crore for jobs under the VB-G RAM G scheme, while MGNREGA rural jobs remain suspended since 2021. Unemployed youth will receive Rs 3,000 per month under the Bhorsa Karmasathi scheme.
Regulatory Changes
Liquor shops will not be allowed within a one-km radius of hospitals, schools, and religious institutions across the state, with a 500-meter radius in Kolkata. The MLA development fund has been increased from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The government also plans to bring a law to safeguard businesses from syndicate charges and informal extortions.
Debt and Minority Affairs
Dasgupta said the BJP government inherited a debt burden of Rs 8.15 lakh crore from the previous Mamata Banerjee administration, but assured that all welfare schemes of the previous government would continue. The budget for minority affairs and madrasa education was slashed to Rs 2,165 crore from Rs 5,713 crore, and all direct financial assistance based on religious categorisation has been discontinued.
Reviving Calcutta Stock Exchange
The government is considering reviving the historic Calcutta Stock Exchange, which has been dormant for 13 years. Sebi had suspended the CSE in 2023 for non-compliance with regulatory norms.
