New Delhi, Feb 11 (NationPress) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya has claimed that the West Bengal government is intentionally hindering the execution of various Central government schemes spanning multiple ministries.

During a supplementary inquiry directed at the Education Minister, he raised concerns over these issues.

During the question hour in the Rajya Sabha, Bhattacharya pointed out that initiatives from nearly every Central ministry are encountering challenges within the state, leaving citizens—especially those from tribal and minority communities—without vital benefits.

In a direct question to the Ministry of Education, Bhattacharya requested information regarding West Bengal's engagement in the Vidyanjali scheme in comparison to other states. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, aims to bolster government and government-aided schools by promoting community and private sector participation.

Volunteers—including professionals, retired educators, alumni, NGOs, and corporations—offer their services, resources, materials, or CSR support to enhance co-scholastic activities and overall school advancement.

Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary responded sharply, indicating that the West Bengal government has effectively ignored the scheme completely.

He noted that from roughly 82,159 government schools in the state, only 55 have been registered on the Vidyanjali portal. This meager participation starkly contrasts with the nationwide implementation, where hundreds of thousands of schools in other states have adopted the program, benefiting millions of students through volunteer support.

Bhattacharya's remarks highlight the ongoing political tension between the BJP-led Centre and the Trinamool Congress-governed West Bengal government, with repeated accusations from opposition figures that the state administration is obstructing Central welfare initiatives.

The MP contended that such lack of cooperation is inflicting significant detriment on the state's populace, who are missing out on flagship programs in education, health, and development.

The Vidyanjali program, designed to encourage direct community involvement in schools, has met with considerable success elsewhere, with over eight lakh schools registered nationally in recent updates and countless volunteers signed up.

Chaudhary's statistics reveal a glaring disparity in West Bengal, prompting inquiries about the state's priorities concerning educational collaboration with the Centre.