5.3 lakh SC & ST people receive financial aid

Kolkata: At a time when the countrywide lockdown has affected lives of common people and administrative work in state and Central government offices, the Backward Classes Welfare department has given financial assistance to 5.30 lakh people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state during this period.

Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, HK Dwivedi, additional Chief Secretary (Finance) and SK Thade, Officer on Special Duty in the rank of Principal Secretary have made this work possible during the ongoing lockdown.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced Tapashili Bandhu and Joy Jahar schemes for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people. The schemes came into force on April 1.

Under the scheme, SC and ST people are to get Rs 1,000 per month. These schemes are a part of the Joy Bangla initiative of the state Finance department.

As the nationwide lockdown came into force on March 24, the offices of the state government remained closed and the names of the beneficiaries were uploaded on the Finance department website.

It was learnt that till Wednesday, around 3.5 lakh SC people have got two months' money, while 2 lakh ST people including 1.5 lakh pensioners have also got the amount. The money has been deposited directly in their accounts.

Thus within three weeks after the schemes had been introduced, 5.3 lakh SC and ST people have received financial assistance. As the money is directly deposited in their bank, the age-old system of middlemen has also been done away with.