Kolkata, Sep 23 West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said that he wants to ensure a ‘cut money’-free and hassle-free business environment in the state, and asked investors to report any demand for money or other form of harassment to a dedicated 24×7 helpline launched during the day.
Speaking at a ceremony for handing over land to 33 industrial projects, Adhikari said the helpline, which would function round the clock at the state secretariat, would help the government to take action on complaints and ensure that industrial units can operate smoothly.
“If anyone disturbs or harasses you in the office, factory, or business places, please call our toll-free number 155335 and inform us,” he said.
“We will provide you with a business-friendly and industry-friendly environment. The government will do the work of ensuring that you are not harassed,” he said.
After May 9, syndicates and extortion of businessmen have ended in Bengal, Adhikari said, referring to the day on which he had sworn in as the chief minister.
In West Bengal, a syndicate refers to an agency, often backed by politicians, that forcefully supplies construction materials at inflated rates.
Adhikari said investors pumping in more than Rs 100 crore in the state would not have to approach multiple offices for clearances and approvals, including building plans, mutation, land conversion and trade licences.
“We will provide a single-window system and facilitate the required clearances,” the chief minister said.
Adhikari also hit out at what he called the “dole culture” adopted by the previous TMC government, saying that doling out cash schemes to citizens ran contrary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
He said that the previous regime had adopted a policy of distributing Rs 500 a month as a dole to win popularity, calling it a “very bad practice”.
The CM did not elaborate on that, but he was apparently referring to the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ women-centric scheme in which the beneficiaries initially received a monthly grant of Rs 500, which was gradually raised to Rs 1,500. Interestingly, the BJP government in the state increased that amount to Rs 3,000 after giving the scheme a new name, ‘Annapurna Yojana’.
“The whole country is talking about a self-reliant India, but some state governments are telling people to remain dependent and ask for dole. We have to come out of this mindset,” he said.
A large number of women, claiming to be eligible beneficiaries of the ‘Annapurna Yojana’, recently protested in various districts over not receiving the money in their bank accounts.
“The previous government was promoting only the distribution of dole when the country speaks of being self-reliant. It is not the policy of the popular government. We have to come out of dole,” he added.
(PTI News)
