TMC institutionalised corruption, gutted institutions in Bengal: FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at the ruling West Bengal dispensation saying Trinamool has become a by-word for exploitation and the party has institutionalised corruption and gutted institutions. Stating that there is rampant corruption in MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana in the Trinamool Congress-ruled state and its cadre has been thriving at the cost of the common man, Sitharaman wondered whether Trinamool has now become grassroots Virodhi.  "It is ironical that Trinamool Congress, a party which prides itself on being rooted in the grassroots (Trinamool), now symbolises harassment and denial of rights to the people living at the grassroots," she said in the Lok Sabha amid constant interruption by TMC members.
In her reply to the Union Budget debate in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister said that while the Centre had been allocating funds under social welfare schemes, there were instances of corrupt TMC cadres siphoning away the funds.The Finance Minister said that like every other State, PMAY-G is being implemented in West Bengal since 2016-17. The Government has released Rs 25,798 crore as Central share to the State since 2016-17.  There have been 25 lakh fake job cards in MNREGA, and funds meant for people at the grassroots have been looted by TMC cadres. A Rs 100 crore Mid-Day Meal fraud, ration mafia thriving denying people on grassroots their benefits. Besides, Ayushman Bharat was blocked, denying healthcare to the poor people living at the grassroots level.
She further stated that West Bengal was once India’s industrial powerhouse with a 24 per cent share of industrial production in 1947, but the state is now far behind in manufacturing at 3.5 per cent share in 2021.“Bengal’s per capita income growth lags national averages for 20 years. It’s ranked 23rd in 2021-22,” she remarked. Refuting the TMC argument that the Centre has been discriminating against the state, Sitharaman said over 2,309 km of National Highways have been constructed in West Bengal since 2014. Besides, in August 2024, CCEA approved the 4-lane Kharagpur-Moregram National High-Speed Corridor, which is 231-km-long at a total capital cost of Rs 10,247 crore.
Coming to Airways, Sitharaman said in August 2024, CCEA approved the development of a New Civil Enclave at Bagdgora Airport, Siliguri, West Bengal at an estimated cost of Rs 1549 crore. Operationalisation of Durgapur in 2019 and Cooch Behar airports in 2023 under RCS UDAN. Revamping of Bagdogra and Barrackpore Airfields was also undertaken at a cost of over Rs 500 crore, she added.
Highlighting the development of social infrastructure in the state financed by the Centre, Sitharaman said over 38 lakh houses were built for the poor under PM Awas Yojna while 93 lakh tap water connections were provided under Jal Jeevan Mission. Over 83 lakh household toilets were built under Swachh Bharat Mission and 494 Jan Aushadhi kendras were also operationalised. Besides, 5.3 crore Jan Dhan accounts were opened and over 5 crore MUDRA accounts were sanctioned for the poor in Bengal.