States » EastPosted at: Oct 8 2026 11:06PM


Leaders lack understanding of poor patients: Bengal CM takes dig at Banerjee's over hospital diet rates

Siliguri, Oct 8 (UNI) Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday attacked the previous government without naming its former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, saying the rate had remained unchanged since 2017 for patients in state-run hospitals.
Addressing a government programme at Manikchak on Thursday, Adhikari said the government had increased the diet rate for hospital patients from Rs 56.40 to Rs 110.
He said the rate had remained at Rs 56.40 since 2017 and no initiative had been taken to ensure that poor patients received proper food three times a day.
“Actually, the people of the Chief Minister’s family do not go to hospitals. They do not go to ordinary hospitals. The people of the former Chief Minister go to America for treatment. Therefore, they have no experience of how poor people live and eat in local hospitals,” Adhikari said.
He said his government had increased the remuneration of workers in several sectors within the past five months, citing ICDS workers, ASHA workers, civic volunteers, para-teachers, Prani Bandhu and forest guards.
He also referred to employment for civil defence personnel for at least 20 days and increases assistance under schemes including PM-Kisan, Krishak Bandhu.
Adhikari said the previous government had kept police recruitment stalled because of complications relating to OBC reservations.
“We have sorted out the issue,” he said, announcing recruitment of 12,000 police personnel. Appointment letters and uniforms are expected to be handed over at Netaji Indoor Stadium on October 12.
He also announced that government employees, including school teachers, would receive 20 per cent DA before Puja, by October 16.
Adhikari said his government had released the second instalment of the Banglar Bari housing scheme without discrimination between Hindus and Muslims, contrary to the “propaganda” during the election.
He also said West Bengal was expected to receive another 50 lakh houses under the Pashchim Bangla Awas Yojana.
Urging migrant workers from Malda to obtain Ayushman Bharat cards, he said the cards would enable eligible workers to access treatment in other states.
Adhikari said Malda accounted for 1,563 metric tonnes of raw silk, or 68 per cent of the state’s production, and had substantial potential in MSMEs, including food processing, mango, honey and jute.
Adhikari said Malda was lagging behind in the Surya Ghar scheme and urged officials to ensure that the number of applicants and beneficiaries increased, saying he wanted to see more approvals when he returned to the district.
He said around nine lakh applications had been received from Malda under the Annapurna Yojana, of which funds had already been disbursed to 6.80 lakh beneficiaries, while payments for another 1.35 lakh applicants were under process.
He also announced a Kisan Development Board for people of the Kisan community in Malda seeking Scheduled Caste recognition and certificates.
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