Author:- Sushmita Das, Student at Christ Academy Institute of Law, Bengaluru
Abstract
Since coming to power in 2011, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) under Mamata Banerjee has implemented numerous policies in West Bengal, notably improving education, healthcare, and food security. Initiatives such as Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi have boosted school attendance and gender equality, while Swasthya Sathi and Khadyasathi have enhanced healthcare access and food security for the underprivileged. However, these programs face significant challenges, including implementation inefficiencies, corruption, and financial sustainability concerns. Issues like teacher absenteeism and inadequate public healthcare infrastructure persist despite increased access. Favoritism and corruption have also led to ineligible individuals benefiting from these schemes. According to the critics have argued that the focus on welfare over industrialization hampers sustainable economic development and addressing these issues requires strengthening administrative frameworks, improving transparency, enhancing public infrastructure, and promoting sustainable economic growth alongside welfare initiatives. Robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are essential for ensuring the long-term success and accountability of these programs.
Introduction
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, has implemented several policies and initiatives in West Bengal since coming to power in 2011. The TMC’s policies have had substantial positive impacts, particularly in education, healthcare, and food security. Programs like Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi have increased school attendance and educational attainment among girls, contributing to greater gender equality. Swasthya Sathi has provided financial relief and better healthcare access, and Khadyasathi has helped reduce malnutrition and hunger of many unprivileged children.
However, these initiatives have not been working without facing challenges.It can be said that implementation inefficiencies, allegations of corruption, and fund mismanagement have plagued various schemes. The quality of services, particularly in public healthcare and education, has not always matched the increased access which should have been reached. Financial sustainability is another concern, with critics arguing that the heavy spending on subsidies and welfare schemes could lead to fiscal deficits which is much true as it would affect the whole economy of the state.
Moreover, issues of targeting and coverage have resulted in some deserving beneficiaries being left out, while ineligible individuals have sometimes benefitted due to favoritism or corruption. The politicization of welfare schemes and the use of these programs for electoral gains have also been points of contention.
Despite these challenges, the TMC’s focus on inclusive growth and grassroots development has undeniably transformed West Bengal, making significant strides in improving the quality of life for many of its citizens. Moving forward, addressing these criticisms will be crucial for ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of these initiatives.
These initiatives span various sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, and social welfare, among them all some are being mentioned herein,
- Kanyashree Prakalpa:- it was launched on 2013, this scheme aims to improve the status and well-being of girls by incentivizing education and delaying marriage.
It has successfully increased the school enrollment rates of girls and delayed early marriages. The program has received international recognition, including a United Nations Public Service Award.
- Sabuj Sathi:- This initiative provides bicycles to students of classes IX to XII to ensure they can reach their schools conveniently.
This scheme has reduced drop-out rates, particularly in rural areas, and improved attendance. It has also empowered students, especially girls, by providing them with greater mobility.
While the above mentioned schemes have increased enrollment, the quality of education in government schools has not seen a commensurate improvement. Issues such as teacher absenteeism, lack of facilities, and outdated curricula persist.
- Khadyasathi: It aimed at ensuring food security, this program provides subsidized food grains to nearly 90% of the state’s population.
The initiative has significantly alleviated hunger and improved nutrition among the poorer sections of society.
- Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship:- This scholarship program supports meritorious students from economically weaker sections to pursue higher education.
The program has increased access to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds and enhanced the state’s human capital.
- Swasthya Sathi:- This is a health insurance scheme providing basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to ₹5 lakh per annum per family.
It has expanded healthcare access and financial protection against health expenses for millions of families. Though some schemes have suffered from many bureaucratic inefficiencies and delays. For example, beneficiaries of the Swasthya Sathi health scheme have reported difficulties in accessing services and getting claims settled promptly.
Also, Allegations of corruption and fund mismanagement have plagued various initiatives. For instance, there have been reports of local officials demanding bribes for including names in beneficiary lists. Not only that but despite having this initiative, public healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate in many areasand it is not new that hospitals are often under-resourced, leading to poor service quality.
- Pathashree Abhijan:- This is an initiative to repair and upgrade rural roads across the state.
This initiative has improved rural connectivity, boosted local economies, and enhanced access to services and markets.
Conversely, there have been cases where ineligible individuals have benefitted from these schemes due to favoritism or corruption. While welfare schemes provide immediate relief, critics argue that they do not sufficiently address the need for sustainable job creation and economic development. The state mainly focuses on welfare of people over industrialization which has been a point of contention.
There also have been issues with the monitoring and evaluation of these schemes, making it difficult to assess their actual impact and make necessary adjustments. The absence of robust data and transparency further complicates accountability.
It would not be wrong to say that the government is trying most of the most to satisfy people in monetary way so that their vote bank would be safe and that people would in greed will again elect them as the government to rule on the state.
Though the government is not focusing on the employment of the people who are freshly graduated or previously already graduated, the employment rate of the state is very low comparatively other state, also it has recently proven that money were taken by the people by promising them government job in Primary or Secondary school as teacher role and for the same position many common people have paid Lakh of rupees to just get the position of the teacher, or any other governmental position from Group A to E differentiating accordingly. But recently this scam was caught red handed and for the same guidelines have been issued. But the question here arises again why all these matters are happening in the state and how this was never been caught or how till now no one complained about it that such scheming has been happening.
Suggestions to improvise the policies, which will help to improve the program and would benefit the society as whole.
- They should focus on strengthening the administrative framework to reduce bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies. Regular training and capacity-building programs for officials involved in implementation can help improve efficiency.
- They must establish an independent anti-corruption body to oversee the implementation of schemes and to introduce stringent penalties for corrupt practices and ensure transparency in the beneficiary selection process.
- They should invest in improving the infrastructure of public healthcare and education facilities. Regular audits and inspections can ensure that these facilities maintain high standards.
- They must conduct a thorough financial analysis to optimize the allocation of resources. Prioritize sustainable economic development alongside welfare schemes to balance immediate relief with long-term growth.
- It is must to implement robust mechanisms to accurately identify and reach deserving beneficiaries and technology, like biometric identification and digital records, to minimize errors and favoritism.
- They should develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework with clear metrics to assess the impact of schemes. Regularity in publishing transparent reports to ensure accountability and facilitate necessary adjustments.
- They must focus on policies that promote industrialization and entrepreneurship to create sustainable employment opportunities. It should strengthen vocational training programs to enhance the employability of graduates.
- They should ensure that welfare schemes are administered impartially, without political interference. Promoting public awareness about the non-partisan nature of these schemes to reduce their use as electoral tools.
Conclusion
The governance and policy initiatives undertaken by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal since 2011 have brought notable improvements in areas such as education, healthcare, and food security. Programs like Kanyashree Prakalpa and Sabuj Sathi have successfully increased school attendance and promoted gender equality, while Swasthya Sathi and Khadyasathi have enhanced healthcare access and food security for the underprivileged.
However, these initiatives are not without significant challenges. Implementation inefficiencies, corruption, and financial sustainability concerns persist. Issues such as teacher absenteeism, inadequate public healthcare infrastructure, and favoritism have undermined the effectiveness of these programs. The state’s heavy reliance on welfare schemes over industrialization has also raised questions about sustainable economic development.
To address these issues, it is crucial to strengthen administrative frameworks, improve transparency, and enhance public infrastructure. Establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, alongside promoting sustainable employment opportunities, will be key to ensuring the long-term success and accountability of these initiatives.
Moving forward, the TMC must balance immediate welfare benefits with long-term economic growth to transform West Bengal sustainably. By addressing corruption, optimizing resource allocation, and fostering a non-partisan approach to welfare schemes, the government can build on its achievements and create a more equitable and prosperous future for all its citizens.
FAQ
- What is the focus of the study?
The study focuses on analyzing the policies and initiatives implemented by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal since 2011, under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, and examines their impacts, challenges, and sustainability.
- What are the key areas of improvement targeted by TMC’s policies?
TMC’s policies target significant improvements in education, healthcare, and food security. Key initiatives include Kanyashree Prakalpa, Sabuj Sathi, Swasthya Sathi, and Khadyasathi.
- What are the criticisms of TMC’s focus on welfare schemes?
Critics argue that the focus on welfare over industrialization hampers sustainable economic development. There are also concerns about the financial sustainability of heavy spending on subsidies and welfare schemes, leading to potential fiscal deficits
