Kolkata: West Bengal will have a new industry policy, and its details will be announced from Nabanna on November 5. The state cabinet cleared the policy on Wednesday, along with a decision that will keep future government school teachers out of electoral politics.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, tied the two announcements to the festival calendar. "Dhanteras, Diwali and Kali Puja are approaching. This is an auspicious time for us. Two government programmes will be held on November 5 - the announcement of the state's industrial policy and the transfer of money to farmers," he said.
The industry policy, officials said, works through incentives, faster clearances and changes to land-allocation rules, all aimed at pulling in fresh investment.
On the farm side, the cabinet approved an additional ₹3,000 for every farmer who already receives benefits under the Centre's PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi. The money will be paid in two instalments under the Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. The first instalment of ₹2,000 is to reach about 48 lakh registered farmers on November 5, and Adhikari said he will attend the programme at Pursurah in Hooghly district, from where the transfer will be triggered.
The cabinet also decided to rename the state's Krishak Bandhu scheme as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. It approved the observance of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas from November 11 to 18.
The restriction on teachers was the sharpest of the day's decisions. Those appointed through the School Service Commission in future will not be allowed to contest panchayat, municipal, assembly or Lok Sabha elections, or take part in politics directly.
"Teachers in no other state of the country are directly involved in politics. Seeing the examples of states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, we have decided that teachers in West Bengal will also no longer be allowed to participate directly in politics," Adhikari said.
Serving teachers, including those already holding elected positions in panchayats and municipalities, have been left out of the bar. "There was no such legal condition at the time of their appointment, so existing employees will remain outside its purview," the chief minister said.
The cabinet also created 1,199 posts across the Animal Resources Development, Urban Development, Health and Family Welfare, Fire Services, and Home and Hill Affairs departments. Adhikari said 45,000 vacancies were created at the previous cabinet meeting, and that recommendations have been made for around 60,000 recruitments over the last few meetings.
Appointments, he said, will be made through the School Service Commission, the Public Service Commission and the Police Recruitment Board strictly on merit. The new industrial policy is being rolled out against that backdrop of promised jobs and promised investment, with the details due within a week.