CM Mamata Banerjee Increases Durga Puja Grant to ₹1.10 Lakh, Announces Tax Waivers and Power Subsidies; Opposition Cries ‘Poll Gimmick’

PTI, KOLKATA, JULY 31, 2025 :  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced a significant increase in the state government’s Durga Puja grant, raising it from ₹85,000 to ₹1.10 lakh for each of the 40,000 registered Puja committees across West Bengal. In addition, she declared a full waiver of state taxes, an 80 percent concession on electricity bills, and exemption from all state service charges, sparking celebration among organisers and sharp criticism from the Opposition ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Speaking at a mega coordination meeting of Puja committees held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee said the enhanced financial assistance acknowledges the cultural importance of Durga Puja and its global recognition as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. “Durga Puja is not just a religious celebration. It is the lifeline of Bengal’s cultural identity, our ‘praner utsab’ (festival of the heart). We are proud that UNESCO has recognised this. It’s our collective responsibility to preserve that glory,” she told a packed audience comprising Puja organisers and senior bureaucrats.

Alongside the grant hike, the Chief Minister announced an 80 percent electricity subsidy for Puja pandals, full waiver of state government fees such as fire licence charges, and complete exemption from civic taxes imposed by Kolkata Municipal Corporation, municipalities, and panchayats. “This year, no fees will be charged by the fire brigade, civic bodies, or any other state-run service provider. We are standing by you so that you can organise the Puja without financial stress,” she declared.

The announcements come at a time when rising prices of materials and services have put added financial pressure on organisers, particularly those in semi-urban and rural areas. For many committees, the state grant has become a crucial source of support. Tracing the evolution of the scheme, Mamata recalled that the grant began at ₹10,000 in 2018 and has been raised progressively in response to inflation and growing costs. It rose to ₹25,000 in 2019, doubled to ₹50,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased to ₹85,000 in 2024 before Thursday’s ₹25,000 hike.

The Chief Minister also announced that this year’s grand Durga Puja Carnival will be held on October 5, with immersions scheduled between October 2 and 4. She issued a comprehensive set of safety and inclusivity guidelines for Puja committees, including mandatory CCTV surveillance, drone monitoring, watch towers, women-friendly amenities, and separate entry and exit points at pandals. “I urge all organisers to keep ambulances ready, maintain crowd control, ensure proper lighting at immersion ghats, and avoid any mishaps,” she said.

Mamata directed Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police to work in close coordination and advised Metro Railway and the transport department to run additional services during the Puja days.

However, the Opposition accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of using public funds to curry political favour ahead of the upcoming polls. “Why stop at ₹1.10 lakh? Make it ₹2.10 lakh! It won’t change anything. First, clear the pending dearness allowance dues to government employees and fill up the six lakh vacant government posts,” a state BJP leader said sarcastically. “Wait and watch, next she will raise the Imam and Muezzin honorarium too,” he added.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, and other BJP members alleged that the grant hike was a “politically motivated handout” intended to “buy favour” from thousands of local clubs and community organisers in the lead-up to the high-stakes 2026 state elections.

Responding to the criticism, TMC leaders defended the move, asserting that Mamata Banerjee’s initiatives reflect Bengal’s inclusive cultural ethos and are not influenced by electoral calculations.