Can Mamata’s booth-level APAS scheme provide governance or just votes?

Kolkata, Sep 10 (NationPress) The launch of a new welfare initiative by West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is rapidly gaining traction as a significant outreach effort ahead of next year's Assembly elections.

The public's enthusiasm for “Amader Para, Amader Samadhan” (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution), abbreviated as APAS, has been remarkable, with large crowds visiting the camps.

This program emphasizes addressing daily local challenges—such as broken water taps, faulty electric poles, and the need for playground and street repairs—by organizing weekly camps at every polling booth throughout rural Bengal.

With an overall budget of approximately Rs 8,000 crore, each polling booth is allocated Rs 10 lakh, which will be distributed through real-time public discussions at three-booth Janata Darbar camps. At these camps, government officials work alongside local leaders to gather complaints and approve projects, committing to start work within 90 days.

The APAS camps, initiated on August 2, will continue until November 3.

Reports indicate that over one crore individuals have visited around 14,500 camps within the first month of its launch.

The Opposition is keenly aware of the potential political advantage this flagship outreach initiative could provide for Mamata.

Dilip Ghosh, the former president of the BJP's West Bengal unit, has criticized the scheme as a misuse of public funds, labeling it a “vote-bank strategy” rather than a genuine welfare initiative.

The Opposition argues that the involvement of local elected officials alongside government representatives at these camps reflects the TMC's political motives. They assert that similar outreach efforts have not been conducted in areas where the Opposition holds considerable influence.

They predict that such outreach will not occur in those regions.

However, senior journalist Biswajit Bhattacharjee, who attended a camp in Kolkata Corporation Ward No. 5, noted the absence of local elected officials, such as councillors. He observed that local authorities and Kolkata Corporation staff were present to address public concerns, with one individual collecting data on a computer.

He remarked that most grievances were related to issues like waterlogging, malfunctioning street lights, and parked vehicles obstructing roadways. He suggested that many complainants hesitate to approach their councillors for fear of facing criticism, as their complaints often hint at the elected representatives' inadequacies.

Nonetheless, this initiative is aiding the administration in compiling a database that could inform electoral strategies.

Surjya Kanta Mishra, a senior leader from the CPI(M), referred to the scheme as “TMC’s booth revival strategy,” contending that channeling Rs 10 lakh per booth is unsustainable and undermines authentic decentralized planning.

The Opposition also asserts that the state government is attempting to “divert attention” from allegations of corruption, nepotism, and a decline in law and order.

Meanwhile, APAS builds upon previous initiatives like “Duare Sarkar” (government at your doorstep), which allows people to access services from home. Furthermore, financial assistance is being provided to senior citizens, women, and girls.

Additionally, as Bengal gears up for its largest festival, Durga Puja, the honorarium for each club or organizer has been increased to Rs 1.1 lakh, representing nearly a 30 percent rise from last year's Rs 85,000.

With approximately 45,000 clubs statewide, the strain on the state's finances is evident.

However, the distinction between welfare initiatives and handouts has become increasingly ambiguous in the country.