Bengal receives infra boost from central schemes

The Centre has lined several projects and massive fund releases as part of its flagship mission for West Bengal. It is unveiling a slew of measures ranging from housing, rural roads to Smart city for the state. Moreover, it plans to sanction rural products under its Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Phase III). Additionally, it is planning to inaugurate projects under the Smart City Mission in New Town, Kolkata. It ranges from solar street lighting projects, closed-circuit TV camera surveillance, water conservation and bee corridor projects based in an Eco part in the New Town smart city.

Under the PMAY (Urban), the Centre has sanctioned 4.71 lakh houses and Rs 7,354 crore. Over the next week, more houses are likely to be sanctioned on December 27 in the Central Sanctioning-cum Monitoring Committee.

Arjun Munda, the Tribal Affairs Minister, inaugurated an outlet of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED) of India located in Kolkata. As part of this initiative, tribal products are collected from remote areas, processed and marketed outside these villages. Also, the central government has implemented a minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFPs) that is collected by tribals.

The Union Government's biggest challenge includes the state’s reluctance to take part in Centre’s schemes. As part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the state government constructed toilets but did not obtain the Centre’s defecation-free certificate.

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