Kolkata, March 15 -- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced an increase in the monthly honorarium for Hindu priests and Muslim muezzins in West Bengal, hours before the expected declaration of the Assembly election schedule by the Election Commission of India.
According to government sources, the honorarium has been raised by Rs 500, taking the monthly amount from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000. The chief minister made the announcement through a post on X around 2:40 p.m., while the poll panel was expected to announce the election dates later in the afternoon.
In her message, Ms Banerjee said the services of priests and muezzins play an important role in sustaining the spiritual and social fabric of communities. "I am pleased to announc...