Kolkata, May 11 -- Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who chaired the first Cabinet meeting of the BJP government on Monday, announced that no existing social welfare scheme in the state would be discontinued under the newly formed BJP government, clearing doubts about the future of the previous government's schemes.

He made six key announcements regarding the implementation of all central schemes, including other administrative decisions.

Responding to a query about whether the new government will continue with the former government's health scheme, namely Swasthya Sathi, Adhikari said: "Any existing social scheme of the government, irrespective of its running time period- be it 30 years or 10 years will not be stopped. Every scheme will run with full transparency. We will ensure that no dead person or non Indian avail benefits of such projects. We will go for a paperless office and all benefits will be transferred through DBT ( direct benefit transfer) to ensure transparency," said Adhikari.

Adhikari announced that the Cabinet has approved the transfer of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for border fencing along sensitive international border areas and said that officials have been directed to complete the entire land transfer process within 45 days.

He announced that the state would align with the Centre's flagship health insurance programme, Ayushman Bharat. "Bengal would work with the Union health ministry to implement Ayushman Bharat from Monday itself," he said .

Adhikari announced that the Cabinet has decided to actively implement all central schemes, like the Prime Minister (PM) Jana Arogya Yojana, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Shree, PM Biswakarma Yojana, PM Ujala Yojana 3.0, Beti Bachao Beti Parao in Bengal.

"8 .65 lakhs people in Bengal have applied for PM Vishwakarma Yojana, but the previous government did not allow the district magistrates to forward these applications to the MSME ministry at the centre. The DM's have been asked to forward these applications immediately for central clearance," said Adhikari.

He also claimed that a few lakhs of women will be able to join the PM Ujala Yojana III soon. "The former government, for political reasons, did not give a nod to the DMs to send applications under this scheme to the centre. Around 15 lakh applications are pending. Instructions have been issued to immediately send these applications to the Petroleum Ministry," he added.

He further said that the Cabinet has approved a five-year relaxation in the upper age limit for applying for government jobs.

"Home Minister Amit Shah Ji, during his election campaign at Raidighi, had said that no government recruitment had taken place in West Bengal after 2015, causing many educated youths to be deprived of government jobs. The relaxation will allow these deprived ones to apply for such jobs," he added.

The Chief Minister said the state has activated the Census process in Bengal, and it would start immediately.

The Chief Minister further said that the Cabinet has approved a proposal to provide social security and state support to families affected by atrocities and political violence.

"321 BJP supporters have sacrificed their lives for the formation of the BJP-led government in Bengal. We will ensure full support to their family members and will also ensure that they get justice for the loss they suffered," he said.

As part of administrative reforms, the Cabinet also decided that IAS, IPS, WBCS and WBPS officers posted in the state would undergo Central training programmes in accordance with national norms. Referring to the issue, the Chief Minister alleged that officers were earlier discouraged from attending Central government training programmes due to "unwritten instructions" from the previous administration.

The Cabinet thanked the Election Commission and all stakeholders associated with the conduct of a violence-free, fair and peaceful polls in the state.

Adhikari reiterated that his government would function on the principles of "good governance and security".

"This government will end the system of 'for the party, by the party, of the party' and function on Babasaheb Ambedkar's principle of 'by the people, of the people, for the people'."

The Cabinet meeting began at 12 noon on Monday at Nabanna. Among those present were ministers Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu and Nisith Pramanik. Senior administrative officials of the state government also attended the meeting.

Later in the day, Adhikari, who held his first administrative meeting at Nabanna with the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, principal secretaries and secretaries of various departments made it clear that officials no longer needed to repeatedly use phrases such as "inspired by the Chief Minister" to please the government.

"Stop the culture of 'inspiration' and focus on actual work. Until now, the government functioned for the party. Many among you also went along unquestioningly. From now on, the government will function for the people. Stop agreeing blindly and give honest opinions for the benefit of the state," he told officials, according to sources. He made it clear that governance should focus on public service and security.

A common communication group - possibly through WhatsApp or email - will be created, including the Chief Secretary, departmental secretaries, and the Chief Minister himself.

Officials were asked to speak to him directly without hesitation if they had suggestions, opinions, or administrative problems. "I will listen," he reportedly said.

Officials were also told they could communicate their concerns and difficulties directly to the Chief Secretary.

He directed departments to restart Central government schemes that had remained stalled and said the state government would work to ensure quicker release of Central funds. "Less talk, more work," he said.

He stressed that there should be no unnecessary expenditure of public money. At the same time, he assured officials that there would be no obstruction where spending was genuinely needed for development work.

Adhikari held separate meetings with elected party MLAs, district magistartes and police top brass in the state.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.