Over 1.75 Lakh Participate as ‘Amader Para Amader Samadhan’ (‘Hamro Gaon, Hamro Samadhan’) Initiatives Launch Across State

KalimNews | August 2, 2025 | Kalimpong : In a landmark initiative to redefine grassroots governance, West Bengal launched its flagship community outreach campaigns—‘Amader Para Amader Samadhan’ (APAS) (‘Hamro Gaon, Hamro Samadhan’)—on Saturday across both rural and urban belts. These programmes, envisioned by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, aim to institutionalise participatory governance, empower communities, and strengthen public service delivery through direct citizen engagement.

The inaugural day of APAS witnessed an overwhelming response from across the state, with more than 1.75 lakh people participating in 632 camps. The initiative covers over 80,000 polling booths, with Rs 10 lakh allocated per booth for local-level infrastructure development. The camps, which turned into vibrant forums of dialogue and collaboration, enabled citizens to identify pressing needs in their neighbourhoods and propose actionable solutions, giving them an active role in planning their own development.

Simultaneously, the ‘Hamro Gaon, Hamro Samadhan’ camp was formally inaugurated in Upper Icchay, Kalimpong, alongside a series of developmental projects under state flagship schemes. These included an additional classroom, mid-day meal hall, and gender-segregated toilets at Ramlal Dahal Higher Secondary School and Bal Yuva Primary School. Kalimpong MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha and District Magistrate Balasubramanian T. presided over the event, where infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.24 crore were initiated. Similar programme was held in Judhabir Junior Basic School, Malbusty under Gorubathan block.

Speaking to the press, DM Balasubramanian T. said these outreach camps would be replicated across several booths in Kalimpong. “The objective is to empower villagers to directly raise grievances and development needs. Public awareness campaigns are also underway to inform citizens of these opportunities,” he stated.

Back in the urban epicentre of Kolkata, four APAS camps were hosted in Wards 70, 13, 10 and 48. In Ward 70 (Bhowanipore), Mayor Firhad Hakim and local councillor Ashim Basu personally interacted with residents and addressed a wide range of concerns—from Aadhaar linking and widow pensions to traffic changes and encroachment issues. Notably, Ashok Bhagat, a resident of Bishop Lefroy Road, raised a complaint about a restaurant’s central kitchen violating safety norms. Councillor Basu assured immediate action and announced the construction of a drainage pumping station and children’s park at Northern Park Annex.

From Howrah, local participant Bumba Chakraborty shared his experience: “I saw the authorities take my complaint seriously and assure action. I’ve never seen a scheme like this anywhere in India.”

Each camp is also hosting Duare Sarkar service desks, offering on-the-spot assistance for personal grievances. At one such desk, a woman shared, “Duare Sarkar helped me when my brother-in-law was sick. We used the Swasthya Sathi card for his treatment. This is real help reaching real people.”

Taking to her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described APAS as a “unique flagship initiative aimed at institutionalising participatory governance and re-imagining grassroots service delivery through people-engagement and empowerment.” She encouraged citizens to participate in camp discussions and help make the programme a “grand success.”

The state plans to organise around 27,000 such camps over the coming months, integrating public feedback directly into policy execution. By combining the principles of transparency, community dialogue, and decentralised governance, West Bengal is setting a precedent in inclusive development.