Darjeeling, 29th November: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme with the help of which people from Bengal managed to get Rs 75,233 crore worth of benefits during the pandemic period.
According to the report, the Union Finance Minister stated that Rs 75,233 crore has been disbursed to West Bengal under the DBT schemes of the Central Government from 1st of April, 2020 till date like Old Age Pension Scheme, National Widow Pension Scheme, PMAY, MGNREGA, Kisan Samman Nidhi, etc. Further, the Finance Ministry has stated that Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts have received Rs 1,096.40 crores under the DBT schemes of the Central Government.
Bista in a statement wrote, “However, it is very discouraging to see that West Bengal today ranks 36th i.e last among all the States and Union Territories taken together, when it comes to Direct Benefit Transfer, as the TMC government had failed to ensure 100% inclusion of the beneficiaries. This allows cut-money to be siphoned off from various schemes like PMAY, MGNREGA etc.”
“I request the West Bengal Government to stop delaying the implementation of the DBT Scheme in the state so that people from our state too can benefit to the maximum possible extent through the Central Government provided facilities,” Bista further added.