This is the first part in a series on exclusions in West Bengal’s welfare schemes. Read part two and three here.
Bankura, West Bengal: A large number of Muslim women from West Bengal’s Bankura were in for a rude shock when they visited the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, Niladri Sekhar Dana on Friday (October 2) afternoon. The women say they had approached Dana seeking help with Annapurna Yojana, a financial assistance scheme meant for women from distressed families.
But instead of helping them, they allege that Dana insisted they chant the Hindutva slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and declared that the benefits of the Annapurna scheme would go to Hindu women first, and only then to Muslim families.
The women, who live in Khethardanga, in Ward No. 19 of Bankura Municipality, say they left Dana’s office near Bhairabsthan in the town feeling humiliated. They have decided to escalate to the authorities their complaint about the MLA’s behaviour as well as the Annapurna scheme not working for them.
“We felt so insulted by the Bankura MLA that we couldn’t even eat,” said Sabena Mondal of Khethardanga on returning home after meeting the MLA. “The entire neighbourhood did not eat that day,” said Reshma Bibi, who looked visibly distressed after returning.
The women’s complaint is that they have not been receiving the promised Rs 3,000 montly payment under the Annapurna scheme, as promised by the BJP during its election campaign and after forming the government. Delays and missing Annapurna payments – many say they have not received a single installment in the months since the BJP came to power – have sparked protests in several parts of Bengal, not just Bankura.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.