Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT Cell Chief, Amit Malviya, criticized the Mamata Banerjee government for not participating in the Central government-led Aspirational Blocks Programme through the NITI Aayog. Malviya highlighted that West Bengal is the only state in India that has not taken part in this initiative, aimed at boosting development in underprivileged areas. The programme, focusing on health, education, nutrition, agriculture, and infrastructure, could have benefited economically deprived regions in West Bengal.
The BJP leader pointed out that despite the identification of 29 backward blocks in 10 districts of West Bengal under the programme, the state government chose not to participate without providing any official explanation. Malviya emphasized that this decision is depriving many families in impoverished areas of essential development support, including improved schools, healthcare services, and infrastructure upgrades. Despite multiple communications from the Central government, West Bengal has not cooperated in joining the initiative.
Malviya raised concerns about the impact of the state government’s non-cooperation on the poorest residents of Bengal, questioning the reasons behind denying them the benefits of targeted development schemes. This is not an isolated incident, as the BJP has previously accused the West Bengal government of obstructing the implementation of various Central schemes in the state, such as Ayushman Bharat and PM-Kisan Yojana, thus preventing people from accessing their entitlements.
