Duare Sarkar program is an initiative launched by Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, across West Bengal in all the districts that provide government services to people on a camp mode basis to raise awareness on West Bengal government schemes that benefit the population. Officers in West Bengal promote the campaign and help residents in reaping its benefits. Mr. Nikhil Nirmal is one such officer who is at the forefront of implementing this as well as several other measures for the people of West Bengal.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, he describes his work in detail.
DUARE SARKAR IN DAKSHIN DINAJPUR
The program envisions taking the administration to the doorstep of people at the grass root level, with various services rendered to them under different development schemes of the state govt. The district comprises eight blocks and three municipalities.
“We conduct at least one camp per day in one block/municipality. So, 11 camps are set up on a zero-cost model since the camps are generally held in school meetings; therefore no money is spent in putting up the infrastructure for these gatherings. We publish the venues and dates of the camp and also conduct press conferences so that the public is aware of the programs” Mr. Nirmal told Indian Masterminds.
In the camps, he takes applications regarding various government schemes. For example, under the new government scheme called ‘swasthya sathi’, health card will be provided to each resident and they will be given medical insurance of Rs. 5 lakh.
Moreover, pertaining to the large SC-ST population in the district, online applications are taken to provide them with caste certificates. Other than that, people are also provided with digital ration cards, through which they can buy rations or even change their ration shops as per their wish.
Said Mr. Nirmal, “Around 12 government schemes are covered through these camps. 413 such camps have been held till the Third Phase (still ongoing) across 64 Gram Panchayats and 57 Municipal Wards and 56.32 % of the district population (16, 76,276) has turned up at these camps. Disposal rate of applications and grievances received is 95.66 % till the third phase.”
WORK ON FOOD SAFETY
Mr. Nirmal believes that food safety is quite a neglected topic in India, and therefore he decided to look into the issue. “I appointed three food safety officers and told them to conduct surprise raids in eateries and restaurants to check out the cleanliness and hygiene in the place,” he disclosed.
Mr. Nirmal accompanied the raiding teams and found that in several restaurants, the hygiene standards were not up to the mark. He gave them notices and asked them to improve their standards and facilities.
“We gave them 15-30 days within which they should rectify, after which another check is conducted and we allow them to function if things seem okay. We have noticed a significant improvement in the hygiene standards after the raids” he told Indian Masterminds.
KANYASHREE PRAKALPA
It’s a special scholarship scheme of the state govt for the girl child to reduce the dropout rate in schools, and also to stop child marriage. These efforts have been acknowledged and awarded by the United Nations.
“A monthly stipend is given to schoolgirls below the age of 15 so they are not dependent on anyone,” said Mr. Nirmal. Under this initiative come several schemes for the welfare of young girls in the district. These are:
- Project Lakshya: Girls of the district are highly interested in clearing examinations like IIT-JEE and NEET. Since some of them live far away from Kolkata, this scheme provides free online training to them to clear the entrance examinations. “40 girls have received the training in 2020 out of which seven have cleared and hold credible ranks in the examination and one has secured 93.46 percentile in All India JEE (Main)” he held.
- Project Pragya: Under the scheme, special awareness workshops are held on breast cancer across schools and colleges.
- Self- Defense Programme: Three-month long self-defense classes were held in 55 schools across the district. This was followed up by Kanyashree Martial Arts Competition with over 300 participants.
- Menstrual Hygiene Awareness: Sanitary pad vending machines were installed in 38 educational institutions, along with the distribution of low-cost sanitary napkins to schools by women’s credit cooperative societies.
Dakshin Dinajpur, under the care of Mr. Nikhil Nirmal is currently placed at number one position in the state with respect to percentage of population turning up at the Duare Sarkar camps.
