Govt subsidy has subsided During the regime of the Trinamul - TopicsExpress

Govt subsidy has subsided During the regime of the Trinamul Congress Kolkata 23 January: At a time when Chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee claims that there is need for more financial assistance for the backward class people of the state for economic upliftment, a report by her own department shows that the government subsidy during TMC regime has decreased considerably. A report prepared by the backward class welfare department pointed out that the mid-term loan provided as subisdy to the self-help backward class (SC/ST/OBC) has decreased considerably. In 2011-12, the government provided subsidy as mid-term loan worth Rs 35,98,66,000 crore and in 2013-14 it has decreased to 13 crore 86 lakh, 80,000. Compared to this during 2009-10 government provided subsidy to the tune of Rs 40 crore. The families who receive self-help assistance has also been decreased in 2013-14 from 2010-11. In 2011, around 38673 families have received assistance, but in 2013-14, 20865 families have received assistance. In the women empowerment scheme, around 14615 families have been been benefited in 2012-13, while in 2013-14 only 6845 women have received the benefit. According to the statistics provided by the backward class welfare department there are around 9 crore 13 lakh, 48,000 people residing in West Bengal and of them around 23.5 percent people falls in the category of backward class. Senior officials of the state government said that as a result of the financial crunch, the state government hasto decrease the amount of the subsidy provided to the backward class, but refused to divulge the reasons behind unnecessary spending in other areas. The report has been placed before the chief minister for her review. With the bypoll of Bongaon Lok Sabha election slated to be held on Februaray 13, it has become tough for the TMC to showcase their achievements for the backward class people in this area as Matua community constitutes majority of the population in Bongaon. Mr Upen Biswas, minister in charge of backward class welfare department said that he cannot comment before looking at the report. sns