KMC's 100-day job scheme to continue

KOLKATA: After deliberating over whether to continue with its 100-day work scheme for the urban poor while the electoral model code of conduct was in force, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) top brass has finally decided to go ahead with it.
The scheme, financed by the state government, was introduced by the Trinamool Congress-run KMC board in January this year.It gave temporary employment to 100 youths in each of the 141 KMC wards, but the civic body was unsure whether continuing with the scheme would violate the directive of the Election Commission (EC).
According to a provision of the election code, beneficiary-oriented schemes should be suspended during the election period, even if they are ongoing. Further, no fresh release of funds on welfare schemes and works should be made. The state government had sanctioned Rs 25 crore for the urban employment scheme on which the civic body spends Rs 4.5 crore for 14,100 beneficiaries in Kolkata, a KMC official said.
A hue and cry was raised over the welfare scheme 10 days ago when Debasish Ghosh, the KMC nodal officer, sought the advice of the municipal commissioner, stating that the projects under the West Bengal urban employment scheme, which started in January, had an initial sanction for 90 days. "Now, with the model code of conduct banning further release of funds for such welfare projects, even if ongoing, what should we do," Ghosh asked municipal commissioner Arnab Roy in a letter.
Roy's reply suggested that since the scheme was already in place, it could continue. However, Roy advised that no new scheme could be undertaken till the elections were over.
The civic top brass then took up the matter with the KMC legal department, which has been studying the case minutely. In the meantime, member, mayor-in-council (health), Atin Ghosh, sought mayor Sovan Chatterjee's advice.
Chatterjee on Thursday said that since funds for the welfare project were sanctioned much before introduction of the model code of conduct, there was no reason why the scheme should not continue. "It will continue according to the schedule drafted before the introduction of the model code of conduct," Chatterjee said.
Paltu Das, a resident of Taltala, and beneficiary of the scheme, felt that it was unfair to stop the scheme in the name of adhering to the model code of conduct. "Whatever I earn from the scheme helps me run my family to a great extent. If this is stopped, I will be in deep trouble," Das said.