Cabinet okays boards for Namasudra and Matua communities

ENS, Kolkata: The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to form two welfare boards for those belonging to the Namasudra and Matua communities – two backward groups in the state – for their socio-economic development.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Chandrima Bhattacharya while speaking to the reporters at the state secretariat said the decision was unanimous. “The cabinet has taken some important decisions today. The first is that 41.11 acres of vested land at Pirachandi and Pirabani mouzas in Salboni area of West Midnapore district will be given to West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd to set up a 10 MW solar power grid in the area. We have also decided to form two separate welfare boards for the Namasudra and Matua communities,” said Bhattacharya.

On November 1, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had met a delegation of All India Namasudra Vikash Parishad at Uttar Kanya (branch secretariat) in Siliguri and had assured them to form a welfare board for the community.

Meanwhile, Bhattacharya also announced that the state government has decided to introduce a bill in the next Assembly session for giving land rights to those residing in the enclaves in Cooch Behar district.