Mamata Banerjee announces ‘Medhashree’ scholarship for students from backward castes and minority communities

RAJESH SHARMA, EOI, JAIGAON, JANUARY 19, 2023 :  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday took a swipe at the BJP government at the Centre from the Hasimara Subhashini teagarden ground in Alipurduar while inaugurating 144 projects in the north Bengal districts of CoochBehar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri and laying the foundation stones of 277 other projects. 

She also handed over house keys to the beneficiaries under the Cha Sundari housing project.

Mamata criticized the Central move to stop scholarships for students belonging to the backward castes and minority communities.

She said her government would provide all support to such students.

Launching the 'Medhashree' scholarship scheme, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said students from backward caste and minority communities would be entitled to a grant of Rs 800 per month. In an administrative review meeting, the Chief Minister said:" 

The Centre has stopped scholarships for OBC and other minority students. 

But don't worry. We will give them the same subsidy. "The Trinamool Congress supremo also said: “They are trying to create divisions among the people” and asked people not to pay attention to them. “Don't pay attention to what they (the BJP) says to create division among people.”  Mamata said, 'We are moving towards an integrated society.” 

In her public meeting, the Chief Minister said that the BJP government i Delhi was reducing the amount of money to begiven for the development of West Bengal, in Terai and the Dooars too. The West Bengal government was working to provide facilities to its people through various schemes. She said that the Centre was pursuing wrong policy of partitioning West Bengal.

In her speech, the Chief Minister said that under the Chai Sundari scheme, the State Government would provide 1127 houses to labourers working in the tea plantations.

She said since becoming the Chief Minister of West Bengal she had visited north Bengal frequently so the people living in the area were not deprived of development. 

Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee made a small appearance at the stage but did not take a seat. Nor did he address the meeting.

Mamata Banerjee said Abhishek, though her nephew, was merely a party leader. Since it was a government programme, it would not be appropriate for him to participate in the event.