The People of Bengal have given a resounding victory for development.
Mamata Banerjee in her historical victory has improved vote margin (44.9 percent) and seats in the assembly (72 percent). She is the undisputed leader of the eastern Indian state.
‘Poribortan’ (change), her election slogan, won her the confidence and approval of people for they have seen and experienced development taking place in villages, towns and cities of Bengal.
Some schemes initiated by her government had its impact and helped increase people’s confidence that Mamata is for people.
The top vote catching schemes were:
— The National Food Security Act that enabled some 70 million people get rice for 2 rupees a kilo
— Shabuj Sath — distribution of cycles to rural girls to help them travel to schools
— Kanyashree that gave girl students annual stipend so that they don’t become school dropout
— Rural Development that helped villagers to connect well with metal roads during past four years
— Drinking water connection was made available to maximum number of villages
Realizing that most of her ministers were non performers, Mamata made district administration to oversee the implementation of thse projects. This did wonders.
The religious minority groups in the state are specially happy with Mamata. In many constituencies it is minority votes that count in the final analysis.
More than 100 of the total 294 seats are decided by the minority votes. It is, therefore, no surprise that those seats easily went to her party, which reinforced the fact that Mamata is a friend of Minorities.
She is particularly close to Christians. She never misses Christmas midnight Mass. Christmas in Calcutta (also Kolkata) is now sponsored by the state government and Park street becomes the center of state celebration during Christmas season.
Mamata is quick in meeting and negotiating with the minorities when they face any problems.
After the Ranaghat incident where a Catholic nun was gang-raped Mamata personally rushed to the place and made sure every step is taken to protect the Sisters.
After that incident every mission station, parishes and minority institutions even in the remote areas were well guarded by the police force.
Mamata’s special interest in Making St. Xavier’s Autonomous College into an university is known and that project too would move fast.
I hear that she is keen to go to Vatican to witness the canonization of Mother Teresa of Kolkata on September 4.
Mamata is simple, honest with frugal lifestyle. But she is the conqueror of hearts of the million in the state.
In the second term, she should make sure that all the schemes that she introduced reach to the really deserving.
She should get rid of the scam tainted party leaders and her colleagues
She should curb the syndicates and goondas at every level.
Personally Mamata should take care to stop the bribe which has become way of life in the first term so that people live to bless her many more terms.
(Fr Irudaya Jothi, SJ, is the director of Udayani Social Action Forum of Kolkata)