Government gave relief after note ban, says Keshari Nath Tripathi

Kolkata: Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi lauded chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday for the measures that her government has taken to provide relief to the cash-starved populace of the state in the wake of demonetisation.

“Despite all adversities, the government has succeeded in taking the inconveniences posed by the unprecedented challenge of demonetisation in its stride, and all possible measures were adopted to provide much-needed relief to the cash-starved populace of the state. The chief minister has left no stone unturned in her untiring effort to keep the morale of the people high in these trying times,” Mr. Tripathi said in his address on the first day of the Budget Session in the state Assembly.

The governor said that demonetisation had affected the economy of West Bengal, with a large number of people facing hardship and suffering. He touched upon various sectors like small and medium scale industry, tea gardens, beedi and jute workers, unorganised sector and cooperatives, which according to him, had been badly hit. He went on to praise the state government for continuing its development activities in the Jungle Mahal. “The Centre has withdrawn the Integrated Action Plan for development activities in the Jungle Mahal areas, but the government is continuing the same with budgetary support from the state under Jangal Mahal Action Plan,” he added.

His speech also highlighted the Supreme Court judgement on Singur, which he said vindicated the stand of the government. He had words of appreciation for the state administration in maintaining peace and communal harmony in the state. Mr Tripathi also lauded the chief minister for setting up several development boards for tribals in Darjeeling, and welcomed the creation of three new districts: Kalimpong, Jhrargram and Burdwan (industrial).

He also touched upon the huge debt burden left behind by the legacy of the previous Left government, and ended his speech on an optimistic note that the state is treading the right path for the all-round development of the state.

“I am very much optimistic that West Bengal, after an era of political disruptions, violent trade unionism, vanishing industries, isolation of the farmers, and above all, a lopsided industrial policy, has now emerged out of the shadows of its past legacy and is fully prepared to march forward on its road to a new dawn,” the governor said.

The governor faced protests from Left Front members who raised the incidents of the death of a person by police firing and the torching of a police station at Bhangor and Ausgram respectively.