Kolkata, 07 September (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday expressed concern over the state’s financial condition, saying the government would need at least another year to recover from the economic challenges inherited from the previous regime.

Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna, Adhikari attributed the state’s current financial difficulties to alleged financial irregularities under previous governments and the state’s earlier decision not to participate in several schemes of the Central Government.

“Our state’s economic situation is by no means good. Financial misappropriation under previous governments and our not joining various schemes of the Central Government have contributed to the state’s poor financial condition. We are still in a difficult situation,” the Chief Minister said.

Adhikari claimed that his government has now joined all major Central Government schemes, which has started bringing additional funds into the state. He also said that revenue collection has increased by around 18 per cent compared with the previous year.

“Compared with last year, nearly 18 per cent more revenue is coming into the state exchequer,” he said, adding that it would take at least another year for the state to fully overcome its present financial difficulties.

The Chief Minister also claimed that his government had succeeded in controlling a substantial portion of what he described as “revenue leakage”. He said that plugging such leakages completely could further increase the state’s revenue.

According to Adhikari, improving the state’s financial position would require more than simply increasing revenue. The government must also curb revenue leakages and ensure that public expenditure reaches the intended beneficiaries.

He further stressed the need to eliminate “fake beneficiaries” from various welfare schemes. Public resources, he said, could be managed effectively only when benefits are provided to genuinely eligible people.

“A government’s responsibility cannot be limited to distributing allowances,” Adhikari said, stressing that equal priority must be given to education, healthcare, infrastructure, employment, industry, commerce, modern agriculture and other areas of development.

The Chief Minister said his government remained committed to welfare measures, but maintained that the benefits of such schemes must reach the people who are genuinely eligible for them.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh