Bengal exits Modi scheme

TT, Calcutta: The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to pull out of a central project to ensure development of five backward districts in Bengal, accusing the Centre of interfering in the state affairs by proposing to monitor the scheme from Delhi.

"The state has informed the Narendra Modi government that it will not take part in the project. We know how to implement projects in the districts. We won't allow anybody to dictate us on matters related to the state as it is a direct assault on the country's federal structure," said a senior state government official.

The state has not attended the first two meetings over the project held in November last year and earlier this month and now a letter from Nabanna has mentioned the government's decision to pull out of the project.

Sources in Nabanna said that Niti Ayog has identified five districts in Bengal - Birbhum, South Dinajpur, Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore - as backward, along with 110 other districts across the country. The Centre wanted to develop the districts by 2022 according to the Prime Minister's "Vision New India".

The Bengal government primarily did not agree with the parameters based on which the districts were selected.

According to an official in Delhi, the criteria included rural road connectivity and household electrification, access to potable water and individual toilets, infrastructure in primary and secondary education; and delivery of health services.

Besides, violence by Left Wing extremists was also taken into consideration while zeroing in on the districts.

"We did not agree that the districts are underdeveloped particularly as the state government has been spending heavily on these areas in the past six years. But when we came to know that Delhi wanted to monitor development projects in these districts, we decided to pull out of it," another official said.

According to sources, the Centre wanted to deploy a senior official in the rank of additional secretary or joint secretary for each district to monitor both central and state government projects.

The state government was also asked to deploy a nodal officer for each district and maintain liaison with Delhi.

"We send regular reports regarding implementation of the central projects in Bengal. Our officers are capable enough to monitor the projects. Why should we allow Delhi to dictate us?" asked another official.

A section of the officials said although the state government would not take part in the project, it would hardly lose anything as the scheme did not include any financial grant for the districts.

"We pulled out of it because the chief minister wants to oppose any attempt to weaken the federal structure," said a minister.