Kolkata: Within 24 hours of portfolio allocation, Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday assumed charge of panchayat and rural development, animal resource development and agricultural marketing departments.
One of the five new ministers of the Suvendu Adhikari administration, Ghosh — known for his "boots-on-the-ground" style — wasted little time in making his presence felt. He made a blunt assessment of the state's rural and agricultural infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters after meeting department officials, Ghosh highlighted a "double-whammy" of resource shortages. "There were no recruitments for a long time. There are hardly workers or officers left to execute plans," he said.
Beyond manpower, Ghosh addressed the brewing crisis in the agriculture sector. Visiting the agri-marketing department, he took aim at the previous administration's policies while addressing the recent farmer distress.
"This time, potato production has been higher, so prices have plummeted, leading to tragic farmer suicides," Ghosh said. "The previous government had stopped potatoes from being sold outside Bengal. Our chief minister has announced that potatoes will be sold everywhere. Farmers must get their fair price, and talks are on to ensure this," he added.
Ghosh emphasised that his leadership style would prioritise practical implementation over "theoretical" office work. He promised to root out corruption and inefficiency within the panchayat system, which he claimed to know intimately.
"I am not used to sitting in an office. I will go to the field," Ghosh said, adding that he knew the "drama" that happens in the panchayat system. "We need to find ways to ensure these things do not happen," he said.
With the rural development and marketing machinery now under his belt, Ghosh's immediate challenge will be balancing urgent recruitment needs with stabilisation of crop prices for Bengal's struggling farmers.
