Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Business & Industry Conclave in Kolkata
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI
Amid an ongoing political storm over the renaming of the MGNREGA scheme for national rural employment programme, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her Government would rename the State’s rural job guarantee programme after Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at the “Business & Industry Conclave 2025” in Kolkata, Banerjee slammed the BJP-led Centre for replacing the 20-year-old MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G scheme and announced that Bengal’s “Karmashree” scheme would be renamed in honour of Gandhi.
“The removal of Gandhiji’s name fills me with deep shame. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation? We have, therefore, decided to rename our Karmashree scheme after Mahatma Gandhi. We seek nothing except respect. And if some do not know how to honour Mahatma Gandhi, we will demonstrate what true respect means,” the Chief Minister said.
Targeting the BJP, she said the “removal” of Gandhi’s name from the flagship programme is a gross disrespect to the Father of the Nation.
Under the ‘Karmashree’ scheme, the State Government claims to provide up to 75 days of work to beneficiaries, despite what Banerjee described as the Centre blocking funds under the MGNREGS.
“We have already created lots of workdays under ‘Karmashree’, which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars,” Banerjee said, adding the State is aiming to increase the number of workdays under ‘Karmashree’ to 100 in the future.
“According to Niti Aayog, our Government generated two crore jobs. We also reduced unemployment by 40 percent. Don’t you think it is enough pride for each and everybody who are defaming Bengal only for political purposes? Please see how we can develop. Instead of being negative, always be positive,” the Chief Minister said at the conclave.
World-class destination
Claiming that Bengal has transformed and become a world-class destination for investment across sectors, Banerjee said “some people” want to defame the State.
“After becoming Chief Minister, I went to Singapore, where I heard rumours about Bengal’s downfall and lost glory. From that day, it became a personal challenge for me to prove that Bengal would one day lead the world. I thank and respect the leaders of industry for their commitment and for taking part in this endeavour,” she added.
Published on December 18, 2025