Kolkata: The Bengal cabinet on Wednesday decided to offer jobs to family members of those who died in poll-related violence over the past 25 years.
Sources, however, said officials who would steer the implementation of the job scheme in districts have been told to focus primarily on the families who lost loved ones in political violence during and after the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly elections. “The scheme will cover families of those killed in political violence during and after the 2021 assembly and 2019 LS elections. However, it will not be restricted to those parliamentary and assembly polls, with the govt planning to include within the scheme’s ambit families of victims of political violence linked to panchayat and other elections over the past 25 years,” an official said.
BJP became a serious contender in Bengal politics a couple of years after the 2016 assembly polls. The party often claims that large-scale violence targeting its workers was unleashed by then governing party, Trinamool Congress , during and after the 2019 and 2021 polls.
Those interested in availing of the benefit will have to apply through their respective district administrations, according to the proposed scheme. After the documents are found to be in order, one eligible member from each family will be considered for a govt job,” the official said. The DMs have been instructed to start making the necessary preparations,” an official said.
Trinamool denies the allegations. “Once applications are received, the respective district administrations will examine the documents and verify the claims. “The district administrations will play a key role in implementing the scheme.
Chief secretary Manoj Agarwal discussed the proposed scheme at a virtual meeting with district magistrates on Thursday.