Kolkata, March 20 (IANS). Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, Trinamool Congress (TMC) has released its manifesto, in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has presented her 10 ‘pledges’. These pledges are a roadmap to continuously accelerate development in the possible fourth term of his government.
Posting on the social media platform ‘X’, CM Mamata Banerjee wrote, “I humbly present my 10 ‘pledges’ for Bengal, so that the wheel of development continues to move forward in the fourth term of my government.”
First of all, monthly financial assistance to women will be increased under ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme. General category women will get Rs 1,500 (₹ 18,000 annually) and SC/ST beneficiaries will get Rs 1,700 (₹ 20,400 annually), an increase of Rs 500. This scheme focuses on economically empowering women.
The second major pledge is to continue the ‘Banglar Yuva-Sathi’ scheme, under which unemployed youth will be given assistance of Rs 1,500 per month (Rs 18,000 annually). This is an effort to tackle the problem of unemployment among the youth.
Mamata Banerjee has pledged to make an ‘agri-budget’ of Rs 30,000 crore for the farmers. This will ensure continuous assistance to farmer families, support to landless farmers and overall upliftment of the agriculture sector.
A promise has also been made to provide a permanent house to every family and piped drinking water to every house. In health services, ‘Dwar Chikitsa’ camps will be organized in every block and city, so that medical facilities can reach the doorstep. In the education sector, under the ‘Banglar Shikshayatan’ initiative, emphasis will be laid on infrastructural upgradation of all government schools.
The economic development will focus on making Bengal the trade gateway to Eastern India, which will include world-class logistics, ports, trade infrastructure and a state-of-the-art ‘Global Trade Hub’.
Uninterrupted benefits of old age pension will be ensured for senior citizens and will be extended to all eligible people in a phased manner. Under administrative reforms, there is also a promise to establish seven new districts and increase the number of urban local bodies.
Mamata Banerjee said that these 10 pledges will form the foundation of her governance and will serve as a clear action plan for the next five years. This manifesto of TMC is based on welfare schemes, focus on women, youth and farmers and expansion of basic facilities, which is the main part of the party’s election strategy.
–IANS
SCH