In a sharp political countermove, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that the state's flagship Karmashree rural employment scheme will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi. This decision came on the very day the Lok Sabha passed a Bill to replace the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
A Direct Retort to the Centre
Addressing a business conclave in Kolkata, Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for removing the Father of the Nation's name from the central rural jobs scheme. "The removal of Gandhiji’s name fills me with deep shame," she stated. "A Bill has been introduced that removes the name of Mahatma Gandhi from MGNREGA. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation?"
She framed the state's decision as an act of reclaiming respect for national icons. "We have therefore decided to rename our Karmashree scheme after Mahatma Gandhi. We seek nothing except respect. And if some do not know how to honour Mahatma Gandhi, we will demonstrate what true respect means," the Chief Minister asserted.
Defending Bengal's Record and Accusing Political Defamation
Banerjee robustly defended her government's economic and employment record, accusing opponents of spreading fake news to malign West Bengal for "political reasons." She highlighted that despite the Centre blocking funds for MGNREGS, the Karmashree scheme provides up to 75 days of work using the state's own resources.
"We have already created lots of workdays under 'Karmashree'. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars," she declared. The CM revealed an ambitious future goal to increase workdays under Karmashree to 100.
She cited Niti Aayog data to claim her government generated two crore jobs and reduced unemployment by 40%. Targeting the BJP without naming it, she questioned the narrative of Bengal's decline. "Don’t you think it is enough pride for each and every body who are defaming Bengal only for political purposes?" she asked.
Focus on Industrial Growth and Social Security
Shifting to her development agenda, Banerjee painted a picture of a resurgent Bengal. She listed key achievements:
- West Bengal ranks first in MSME growth.
- The IT sector is witnessing significant expansion.
- Work has begun on the Deocha Pachami coal block project, expected to generate one lakh jobs.
- The state provides 95 social security schemes covering citizens from birth to death.
She also announced that the Bengal Global Business Summit would be held after the ongoing elections, signalling continued focus on investment.
The Chief Minister received public endorsement from industrialist Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman of RPSG Group, who praised her "decisive leadership" at the conclave. Goenka revealed his group's substantial investments in the state, including a proposed Rs 12,000 crore energy storage facility.
Banerjee concluded with a call for unity, directing a message at PM Modi: "Please remember, if we are one, our country is strong. Division is not the solution to the problems; peace, harmony, friendship and humanity are." The renaming of Karmashree stands as her government's symbolic rebuttal to the Centre's policy shift.
