Bid to keep Duare Sarkar camps free of politicians: 'Bulk receipt of pre-filled forms and bulk distribution of blank forms is prohibited'

 'Bulk receipt of pre-filled forms and bulk distribution of blank forms is prohibited'

Mamata Banerjee: File picture

Pranesh Sarkar   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |  15.08.21: The Mamata Banerjee government prohibited the distribution and receipt of forms in bulk at the Duare Sarkar camps set to start from Monday, making it clear that political interference won’t be entertained at the first mega public outreach of the Trinamul government after returning to power for the third time.

“Bulk receipt of pre-filled forms and bulk distribution of blank forms is prohibited,” reads a minute of a video-conference conducted by the chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi with district officials and department heads on August 12.

Government sources said the instruction clearly indicates the state government’s keenness to ensure no political party, including Trinamul, can interfere in the programme that would be entirely manned by government officials.

“It is longstanding practice in Bengal that political parties help people particularly in rural areas where literacy rate is not high to fill up forms for government benefits. This is the first time the government is trying to prevent it,” said a senior government official.

When political parties help beneficiaries by filling up forms, party members fill up forms and submit them in bulk. If forms can’t be given and received in bulk, political parties can’t get involved, sources said.

The top brass of the government did not want political interference in the camps to keep them free of controversy, officials said. “Complaints often came up against local political leaders...of them asking for money from beneficiaries….The government wants to get rid of such complaints. Government officials in camps will help beneficiaries fill up forms,” said a source.

A Trinamul insider said if complaints of “cut money” rear their head now, it could ruin the entire effort.  “It is expected that 2 crore women will register through the camps for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme this time... If complaints come up against our local leaders, it may derail our government’s effort,” said a Trinamul MLA.

Sources also said the effort to keep political parties away would also restrict Opposition parties in Bengal from extracting mileage.

“If political parties were allowed in camps, the BJP would have taken the opportunity to reach out to the masses in some areas. The ruling establishment clearly wants to nip this probability in the bud,” said a source.

Some government officials wondered if restricting political interference would create trouble for many people who can’t fill up forms on their own.

“Though it is being said that the government officials would help people who can’t fill up forms on their own, practically it is impossible for those present in the camps to simultaneously run camps and fill up forms,” said a bureaucrat.

He said the involvement of gram panchayats would have helped poor and illiterate people fill up and submit forms properly.