Kolkata, 26 May (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced that the state government’s existing “Mukhyamantri Ke Bolun” scheme will be discontinued and replaced with a new initiative titled “Apnar Sarkar Ke Bolun” (Speak to Your Government).

Making the announcement from Kalyani after an administrative meeting in Nadia district, the Chief Minister said the new public grievance and outreach programme would be launched from next week. A new phone number for the initiative will also be issued soon.

During the Trinamool Congress regime, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had launched the “Mukhyamantri Ke Bolun” programme, through which citizens could directly convey their complaints, demands and grievances to the government. Around the same period, the Trinamool Congress had also introduced the party outreach campaign “Didi Ke Bolo.”

At that time, opposition parties had alleged that the phone numbers used in these programmes were linked to political consultancy firm I-PAC and that citizens’ complaints were being routed through the agency. Later, several people had also complained about difficulties in contacting the helpline numbers.

Following the change of power in the state, the BJP-led government has started revamping several schemes introduced during the previous regime. As part of that process, the “Mukhyamantri Ke Bolun” scheme is now being replaced by the new initiative.

Suvendu Adhikari said the “Apnar Sarkar Ke Bolun” programme would enable people to directly communicate with government representatives and place their demands and grievances before the administration.

The Chief Minister further stated that the responsibility of naming the new initiative had been given to BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya, who suggested the title “Apnar Sarkar Ke Bolun.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey