Kolkata: All existing direct-benefit schemes will continue under the new BJP dispensation in Bengal, finance minister Swapan Dasgupta said in his opening remarks as he placed his maiden budget on Monday, and expanded the social security net further by announcing a new scheme for unemployed youth aged between 21 and 45.Christened ‘Bhorsha Karmasuchi’, the new scheme will offer a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 to jobless graduates and Rs 2,000 to others belonging to families with annual income less than Rs 1 lakh. The payout will begin from Oct 1.“All existing protection schemes will continue since we are deeply committed to building human capital,” Dasgupta said, adding, “The schemes will, however, be appropriately modified to ensure benefits reach people belonging to the most vulnerable sections of society.”Dasgupta announced a total allocation of Rs 36,000 crore for the govt’s flagship Annapurna Yojana that provides eligible women in the age group of 25 and 60 years a monthly assistance of Rs 3,000. The budget estimate can cover one crore women beneficiaries; the previous govt’s Lakshmir Bhandar, which provided a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 per month to women, had 2.4 crore beneficiaries.The finance minister also allocated Rs 550 crore to ensure free bus rides for women and announced a one-time assistance of Rs 21,000 to new mothers along with six nutritional kits. “Women will be projected as equal partners in the journey of development,” he said.Monthly pensions for the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities will also see a hike of Rs 500 per month from the existing Rs 1,000. The minister also announced a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 for retired journalists and Rs 10,000 for persons who had to spend time in jail for “politically motivated” or false cases. Food security will be augmented by adding 210 new Maa Ahar canteens to the existing network of 400.For rural development, the budget earmarked Rs 14,000 crore for Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), ensuring 125 days of work for KYC-compliant job card holders, and Rs 13,000 crore for affordable housing under PMAY-G.CM Suvendu Adhikari said, “Half the population lives below economic threshold, and they must be uplifted. A range of measures has been introduced, from improving education for indigenous communities to strengthening their economic conditions. Weekly food packages will be delivered to the homes of particularly vulnerable tribal groups, with biometric systems put in place to ensure proper distribution.”
