A day after the Bengal government started the disbursement of the pending wages of the 100- days MGNREGA job card holders, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday set a deadline of 1 April for the Central government to clear the old dues of the PM Awas Yojana beneficiaries in the state. She said that if the Centre does not meet that deadline, her government will fund the housing scheme for 11 lakh beneficiaries. Already 11 lakh people have registered but the actual figure could go up to 16 to 17 lakh, the chief minister added. She was addressing a meeting on the outskirts of Purulia town today, effectively launching her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

“Many people have started getting their wages for the 100-days job scheme and others will get it in the next few days in their bank accounts,”she added. The central government figure for the 100-days MGNREGA scheme in Bengal was 21 lakh workers, but her government has found names of 50 lakhs people as job card holders after scrutiny, she said. “PM Narendra Modi has to give answer to these 50 lakh people why he has not disbursed their wages,” she said. The chief minister announced that one family member of people who died in wild animal attacks will get jobs in the state forest department. Around a 1,000 people will benefit, Miss Banerjee said, adding that such employees would get a consolidated salary of Rs.12,000 per month.

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Miss Banerjee announced that the food and supplies department will directly purchase paddy from the doorstep of farmers. Besides, a big market will be set up in each district of the state where the products of women Self Help Groups can be sold. She also said that SHG women can apply for a credit card of Rs 5 lakhs. Addressing the Mahato community in the Junglemahal districts, Miss Banerjee said that a survey will be conducted soon of the Mahato community by her government, but it is the Centre which gives the Scheduled Caste status.