Bengal to announce 100 schemes before 100th district meeting

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will announce a plethora of schemes during her 100th district Administrative Review Meeting at Burdwan on Wednesday.

The ruling Trinamool Congress' website said the schemes will pertain to departments like education, health, irrigation, micro, small and medium enterprises, self-help groups, agriculture, PWD (flyovers and bridges), women and child development and urban development.

The chief minister will also inaugurate an android app, 'Smart Bardhaman' in course of the meet.

Social thinker Andre Beteille, former economic adviser to union finance ministry Ashok Lahiri, the chairpersons of State Bank of India, United Bank of India and UCO Bank, vice-chancellors of all leading universities of the state and others are slated to attend the meeting where cabinet ministers and all senior bureaucrats would be present.

"The whole idea is to take stock of government's delivery mechanism at the grassroots level and free-wheeling exchange of ideas among intelligentsia for greater good of the society in different spheres of life," said a senior state government official.

Since assuming power in May 2011, Banerjee has been visiting one district after another to preside over the review meetings in which all important district administrative officials and police officers participate.

She takes stock of the ground level implementation of her government's policies and welfare schemes in the meeting, praising the performers and pulling up those failing to deliver.

"We have been conducting chief minister to BDO meetings which is a unique thing in the country. We do these meetings to oversee all development works being executed in the districts and that they are done quickly," Banerjee had said earlier after a district meeting in Malda.

The state government had sent invitations to all political parties to attend the 100th district administrative review meet. However, the three major opposition parties in the state - CPI-M, Congress and BJP - have decided not to attend.