Kolkata: Keeping her promise made in the election manifesto of Trinamool Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Thursday launched a scheme christened Lokkhir Bhandar (Treasure of Goddess Lakshmi). It is basically a pocket money scheme for women in the state, aimed to benefit women of 1.6 crore families. However, a section of the women professionals in the city, economists and political observers have questioned the basic sanctity of the scheme. According to them, this pocket money scheme for ladies is just appeasement and not a woman empowerment initiative.
Some of them have also expressed doubts on how far such a charity scheme will continue keeping in mind the cash-strapped exchequer of the state government where the state is already reeling under huge accumulated debt burden. Under this scheme, the women from general category will be entitled for a monthly payment of Rs 500, while the women from the reserved categories will be entitled for a monthly payment of Rs 1,000.
They also feel that often different governments, both at the central and state levels, those in power often come out with some projects for cheap publicity. These projects are often very eye-catching and vote bank politics oriented. And this particular project is, of course, aiming at keeping the women vote bank intact.
According to political and economic analyst Santanu Sanyal, the state government's responsibility ends with the announcement of such popular projects. "But it is doubtful how far the fruits of the projects reach to the people who are in need of it. Secondly, with such a huge accumulated debt, such projects are nothing but luxury. Charity can never improve the livelihood of people in the long term. So I do not feel that ultimately the women of West Bengal will benefit from the scheme in a real sense," he said.
Anindita Moitra Das, a professional Ghazal singer and also an engineer, described such projects as ornamental. "I started my own structural engineering firm with all women employees. I think that it is real women empowerment without the stint of charity. Yes, the pockets money scheme will enable a section of women to have a monthly stipend. But will it really result in women empowerment? Had the government been serious about women empowerment, they would have encouraged and nourished the women- run self help groups and thus guide the women to become self reliant. Had women been self- reliant there would not have been any requirement of such charitable projects. The government should ensure equal opportunity to women," she said.
Suchismita Bagchi Sen, an academic administrator by profession, said that this Lokkhir Bhandar project might benefit some women for who getting even Rs 100 a month is a big thing. "From that point of view, the project can be welcomed. But the question lies elsewhere. The state government should have made arrangements for different types of skills training for the women so that they were involved in gainful activities. At the same time, the state government should also arrange for proper marketing of the products made by these women. If that happens the women will be self-reliant and there will be no need for any Lokkhir Bhandar," she said.
Much on the same lines, Professor of economics Probir Kumar Mukhapadhyay said that announcing such charitable projects gives any government an advantage. "By announcing this they attract the vote bank. After at any point of time, if the state government withdraws the project, no one will be in a position to say anything since there is no right over the fruit of charity. Secondly, I personally have doubts on how long a cash- strapped government can continue with such projects, since barring state excise the state government doesn't have any further source of revenue generation," he said.
Anayanya Dasgupta, a member of such a self help group said that although she thanks the chief minister for this project, but she personally feels that instead of giving direct cash to women, the state government should have come out with any alternative scheme through which women of the state can become self- reliant. "Such charity often drives away women from sources of genuine income. So while I welcome this project, I feel that this is not enough for women empowerment," she said.
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