West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday chaired his first cabinet meeting at the Nabanna conference hall, joined by five ministers, and announced a series of major policy decisions signalling the priorities of the new government. Addressing the media immediately after the meeting, Adhikari said the administration would function on the principle of “not I, but We.”
In a key move aimed at addressing unemployment, the Chief Minister announced a five-year relaxation in the upper age limit for government job applicants. Stating that recruitment in the state had largely stagnated since 2015, he said the decision would allow thousands of candidates who had missed opportunities in recent years to re-enter the system.
Adhikari also announced that West Bengal would now be brought under the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme, effectively ending the long-standing tussle between the state’s Swasthya Sathi programme and the central health initiative. He, however, assured that no existing social welfare schemes would be discontinued. The Health Secretary and Chief Secretary have been directed to expedite formalities with the Union Health Ministry, while District Magistrates have been asked to fast-track the processing of 15 lakh pending applications under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana 3.0 and over 8,65,000 applications linked to other central schemes.
On the security front, the Chief Minister approved a long-pending proposal for the transfer of land required for the construction of border outposts by the Border Security Force (BSF). He directed the Land and Revenue Department to complete the transfer process within 45 days, underlining the government’s focus on strengthening border infrastructure.
Adhikari also announced that the state would implement the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) with immediate effect, alleging that the previous government had failed to enforce it. He further instructed that IAS and IPS officers in the state adhere to training protocols followed across the country, addressing concerns over earlier reluctance to participate in central training programmes.
Seeking to dispel public concerns, the Chief Minister clarified that all existing welfare schemes, including Lakshmir Bhandar, would continue without interruption, though with greater transparency. He added that key decisions regarding ongoing investigations into incidents such as RG Kar and Sandeshkhali, along with matters related to the Seventh Pay Commission and Dearness Allowance (DA), would be taken in the next cabinet meeting.
Projecting confidence in his administration, Adhikari said the government would function in a manner that leaves little room for criticism. In an apparent swipe at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he remarked that his government would ensure transparency and allow greater scope for questioning, adding that press conferences would be purposeful rather than symbolic.
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