Don't expect miracles in West Bengal
The Trinamul Congress-Congress combine ousted the Left after 34 years of uninterrupted rule in office and now the Left have merely 62 seats in an assembly of 294. With 227 seats, Mamta Banerjee’s comfortable majority should enable her to push through her agenda of change and reform.
The common man is not overtly enthused at this prospect. There is a general feeling that the new Chief Minister of Bengal will face considerable difficulty in implementing her policies, since the Opposition would be in no mood to oblige her. The Left , in all probability, may spurn any overtures for consultations and retaliatory politics may be the order of the day. As Mamta goes about overhauling institutions, administrative and advisory bodies set up by the left, conflict is bound to happen. Chaos, bloodshed and uncertainty may linger on.
The person in the street does not expect miracles, and would be content if he has his roti, kapda aur makaan, and a life of peace and dignity.
The foremost priority of the new government should be to improve the delivery mechanism for policies and programmes, and to ensure convergence to reach the target groups. The staff in government, municipal and local bodies have to be made to to stand up and deliver. The poor work culture is mainly due to poor and unhygienic working conditions, an inadequate public transport system, and self-importance due to working under the same regime for years. Setting up of effective fast-track single-window systems to eliminate red-tape, and efficient delivery of essential services such as PDS, electricity, civic amenities, healthcare and so on would be appreciated.
Restoration of law and order needs to happen swiftly. Law and order is a state subject under the Constitution, and the state government cannot abdicate its responsibility. Mamta’s public pronouncement that her party will not resort to bandhs nor disrupt public life is a widely welcomed statement of intent. The government should not hesitate to take firm action to prevent escalation of violence and establish the rule of law, especially in Dooars, Darjeeling and North Bengal.
The common man is not overtly enthused at this prospect. There is a general feeling that the new Chief Minister of Bengal will face considerable difficulty in implementing her policies, since the Opposition would be in no mood to oblige her. The Left , in all probability, may spurn any overtures for consultations and retaliatory politics may be the order of the day. As Mamta goes about overhauling institutions, administrative and advisory bodies set up by the left, conflict is bound to happen. Chaos, bloodshed and uncertainty may linger on.
The person in the street does not expect miracles, and would be content if he has his roti, kapda aur makaan, and a life of peace and dignity.
The foremost priority of the new government should be to improve the delivery mechanism for policies and programmes, and to ensure convergence to reach the target groups. The staff in government, municipal and local bodies have to be made to to stand up and deliver. The poor work culture is mainly due to poor and unhygienic working conditions, an inadequate public transport system, and self-importance due to working under the same regime for years. Setting up of effective fast-track single-window systems to eliminate red-tape, and efficient delivery of essential services such as PDS, electricity, civic amenities, healthcare and so on would be appreciated.
Restoration of law and order needs to happen swiftly. Law and order is a state subject under the Constitution, and the state government cannot abdicate its responsibility. Mamta’s public pronouncement that her party will not resort to bandhs nor disrupt public life is a widely welcomed statement of intent. The government should not hesitate to take firm action to prevent escalation of violence and establish the rule of law, especially in Dooars, Darjeeling and North Bengal.
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