Howrah, 27 July (H.S.): West Bengal Panchayat Minister Dilip Ghosh on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting with administrative officials of Howrah and Hooghly districts to assess the progress of various government welfare and development schemes. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Shantanu Pramanik, the District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), Block Development Officers (BDOs), and senior panchayat officials from both districts.
Addressing the officials, the minister stressed the need to accelerate administrative work at the panchayat level and directed them to ensure that the impact and benefits of government schemes reach the doorsteps of the people within the next one week.
Ghosh alleged that corruption at the panchayat level under the previous government had prevented genuine beneficiaries from receiving the benefits of several welfare programmes, including the Garib Kalyan Yojana. He said that the employment programme that had remained stalled has now been revived under a new initiative called VVG Ramji, and training for its implementation is currently underway.
The minister also instructed officials to expedite work related to the Housing Scheme, Annapurna Bhandar, and projects funded under the Fifteenth Finance Commission. Newly introduced amendments to the Panchayat Act were also explained to the officials during the meeting.
On the issue of staff shortage, Ghosh said that more than 11,000 vacancies exist in the Panchayat Department due to inadequate recruitment over the past 12 years. He added that the process of filling these vacancies would begin soon and that officials and employees have already started working at the grassroots level.
The minister also spoke on the state's law and order situation, alleging that anti-national and disruptive elements were attempting to exploit student movements and democratic protests. Condemning the recent attack on journalists during a protest at Dharmatala, he said the accused had been identified through video footage and that strict legal action was being initiated against them under the state's newly enacted anti-hooligan law.
Referring to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on alleged irregularities in the distribution of Amphan relief, Ghosh claimed that large-scale corruption had taken place in the past, depriving genuine beneficiaries of assistance. He asserted that the present government is committed to ensuring transparency and effective delivery of welfare schemes through accountable governance.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
