The Suvendu Adhikari-led government in West Bengal has unveiled a comprehensive package of welfare and administrative decisions following a cabinet meeting. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that the state will initiate the recruitment of 14,454 government vacancies over the next six to eight months. Alongside the employment drive, the administration formally approved the 'Bhagini Nivedita Scheme', which seeks to provide financial assistance to unmarried women pursuing higher education. Emphasizing the administration's broader vision, the Chief Minister reiterated that these measures align with the ongoing commitment to generate one lakh public sector jobs across the state.
Recruitment Scope Across Key Departments Handled by PSC and Police Board
The newly approved 14,454 vacancies will span essential administrative wings, including the Forest Department, Fire Services, Correctional Services (Jails), and the Home and Hill Affairs Department. The responsibility for conducting examinations and finishing the recruitment cycle has been delegated to the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board. According to the Chief Minister, the PSC is functioning at full capacity to resolve backlogged appointment processes. He also criticised the previous Trinamool Congress administration, alleging that administrative mismanagement and complications involving OBC documentation had long prevented local youth from securing government employment.
Police Department Formalities and Appointment Letter Distribution
A structured timeline has been set to reinforce the state police force. Formal recruitment procedures for nearly 12,000 police personnel are scheduled to begin on October 11. During an official event organized on the same day, appointment letters will be handed over to roughly 5,000 selected candidates, marking an immediate step toward filling departmental gaps.
Bhagini Nivedita Scheme: Structured Rs 50,000 Higher Education Support
Designed to reduce economic dropouts among female students, the newly sanctioned 'Bhagini Nivedita Scheme' will come into operational effect starting January next year. Under its provisions, unmarried women pursuing higher studies will receive a cumulative cash assistance of Rs 50,000 spread over a three-year academic span. The disbursement structure allocates Rs 17,000 during the first academic year, followed by another Rs 17,000 in the second year, and a final installment of Rs 16,000 in the third year.
Pay Hike for Karmabandhus and Increased SC/ST Hostel Food Allowances
The cabinet also addressed pay structures for grassroots contractual workers and students residing in state accommodations. Part-time sanitation workers known as 'Karmabandhus', employed within the Land and Land Reforms Department, will see their monthly remuneration rise from Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000, effective from the current month. Furthermore, the state has revised the monthly mess allowance for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students living in state-run hostels, raising their stipend from Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,300 per month.
Rollout of Emergency Helpline 112 and New Police Fleet
To upgrade emergency response infrastructure across cities and rural pockets, the pan-state emergency helpline number 112 will be inaugurated on October 10 on the occasion of Mahalaya. The mobility of local police stations will also be expanded on that day with the distribution of 400 four-wheeled vehicles and 450 motorcycles to various police stations across the state.
Festive Events: Mega Drone Show at Eden Gardens and Vijaya Sammilani
A lineup of state-sponsored public events will coincide with the arrival of Durga Puja celebrations. On Mahalaya, Eden Gardens will host a major cultural assembly drawing an expected crowd of 45,000 people, where an aerial performance featuring 3,000 drones will serve as the headline spectacle. Official celebrations will carry on throughout the festive season, concluding with a grand 'Vijaya Sammilani' on October 26 dedicated to Durga Puja committees, complete with food stalls showcasing regional delicacies from across Bengal's districts.
