Pay-dole politics!

Writers’ Building badly needed renovation and repair. In that context shifting of most of the departments from Writers’ to new building at Howrah christened Nabanna was necessary. But the cost involved in transshipment and what’s more, in according a spick and span corporate look to the new building is too high for a state that is badly suffering from financial constraints. That apart, it’s a temporary measure as after renovation of Writers’ the departments would be shifted back to this age old heritage building again. May be, it’s on card that some departments would remain at Nabanna permanently but the money expended does not worth this purpose too. Mamata Banerjee has been clamouring since she assumed office as Chief minister that the state is now carrying the legacy of colossal debt of the earlier govt. which had no fiscal discipline at all. Debt has reached astronomical figure for wanton expenditure and misappropriation of money as well over the years in Left regime. The present govt has to repay the sky-high debt and as a result developmental works suffer badly. If the above allegations are correct, the same blame may be laid at the door of the new govt too.The present govt is giving away money generously to private institutions and individuals as well.To start with it has paid handsome amount of money to clubs. Imams are getting monthly allowances and unemployed youths are paid doles every month in Yubashree and Kanyashree projects from govt coffer. Even the depositors who lost money in Saradha scam are compensated from public exchequer.Paying monetary assistance to Durga Puja committees are being contemplated. Who knows how many more such projects are in the pipeline. This apart, a lot of money is spent in window dressing. How does a govt that is encumbered with enormous burden of debt spend money so lavishly to meet so called ‘social commitments’? Isn’t it at the cost of developmental work that our state badly needs?Really unfortunate, in deed!