Nirbhik Bangla Special Report: Conflict between promises and reality of the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, state politics in turmoil
At present, the 'Annapurna Bhandar' scheme is at the center of discussion across the state. Although according to the election manifesto, women were promised a financial assistance of Rs 3,000 per month, in reality, anger and discontent are burning across the state regarding receiving it. On one hand, many women have expressed joy at receiving the money from this scheme and have taken out gratitude processions with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (as seen in Ratua, Malda), while on the other hand, the exact opposite picture is emerging from various parts of the state. Due to not receiving the money, the patience of the common people is wearing thin, and they are being forced to choose extreme paths ranging from blocking streets to railway lines.
The picture of Paschim Bardhaman district is particularly volatile. Women of the area staged a protest in front of the BJP party office in ward number 73 of Asansol Kulti assembly constituency. Their allegation is that despite completing all procedures through both online and offline mediums, the money has not yet been credited to their bank accounts. Although the money was supposed to arrive by August 17, days have passed since then, making them angry. The same picture was captured in the Andal BDO office premises as well. There, women gheraoed the BDO office and also blocked the GT Road. They stated that despite coming to the BDO office repeatedly, they are not getting any satisfactory answers, due to which they are facing harassment, leaving their household chores behind.
The situation took a more complex turn when a section of the protesting women at the Salanpur BDO office in Barabani were accused of vandalizing office chairs and tables. Similarly, in the Ramnagar area of Kulti Kalyaneshwari Barakar Road, women blocked the road and protested, which led to severe traffic congestion. Not only in Paschim Bardhaman, but angry women also blocked the railway lines at noon for the same reason at Birati station in North 24 Parganas, disrupting train movement for a while. Protests were also seen in Gobardanga Municipality, where an outsider youth, known as the personal bodyguard of the Mandal president, was accused of ordering journalists who went to collect news to shut off their cameras. This incident has raised a big question mark regarding the transparency of the administration.
From Dhupguri in North Bengal to Panskura and Ghatal in South Bengal—everywhere there is a picture of distress. In Dhupguri, serious allegations of nepotism have been seen; while many deserving and poor housewives are deprived, multiple members of the same family are receiving the benefits. In Panskura, allegations of police harassment and assault have been raised against women who took to the streets after not receiving money, which has sparked a storm of sharp criticism in political circles.
The opposition camp and common people are asking, if the verification process has been completed, why are eligible candidates still falling victim to deprivation? Administrative apathy regarding the implementation of this scheme and the breach of promises have created deep frustration in the minds of the common people. Political analysts believe that if the administration does not quickly rectify these flaws and deliver the pending money to the accounts of all deprived and eligible women, this movement may take a larger shape in the coming days.
