2cr-plus jobs, 4.4 times rise in state GDP: Mamata lists achievements
Times of India | 3 December 2025
Kolkata: The Bengal govt has provided jobs to more than 2 crore people and the state GDP has increased 4.4 times to Rs 20.3 lakh crore since Trinamool was first elected to office in 2011, CM Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday, unveiling a "report card" on her administration's achievements in the run-up to next year's assembly elections.
She also said 1.7 crore people had been lifted above the poverty line between 2011 and 2023.
Banerjee launched the report, titled ‘Unnayoner Panchali', by reciting a unique panchali, a traditional form of lyrical storytelling.
Citing the spirit of cooperative federalism, Banerjee said that despite all the "neglect heaped on the state by the Centre", the Bengal govt wanted to work closely with Delhi.
"It's becoming difficult to manage everything. We are enduring a lot of humiliation and criticism… However, despite oppression, slander and misinformation, we seek cooperation with you (Centre), not non-cooperation," Banerjee said.
"I hope you are listening... This is a govt meeting, not a political one. So, please work shoulder to shoulder, in a system of govt-to-govt cooperative federalism, instead of just engaging in disputes," she said.
The CM detailed the progress under the flagship schemes launched during her tenure. Swasthya Sathi, she said, now reaches 2.5 crore families and Rs 13,156 crore has so far been spent on the scheme. Lakshmir Bhandar, on which the govt has spent over Rs 74,000 crore, benefits 2.2 crore women.
"We spent Rs 1 lakh crore on the Khadya Sathi food security scheme, which covers 9 crore people, and Rs 1,717 crore on Duare Ration, which benefits 7 crore people," Banerjee said.
Under Khadya Sathi, the govt provides 5 kg rice at Rs 2 per kg to each beneficiary family per month, while Duare Ration is doorstep delivery of items through the public distribution system. Swasthya Sathi, a medical insurance scheme of the state govt, offers a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family, while Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries get Rs 1,200 (SC/ST) and Rs 1,000 every month.
Referring to the state of finances, the CM said, "Even after repaying so much loan with interest, our tax revenue has increased 5.3 times, capital expenditure 17.7 times, social sector expenditure 14.5 times, agriculture sector expenditure 9.2 times, and physical sector expenditure 6.9 times. Poverty alleviation is crucial. 1.7 crore people have been lifted above the poverty line till 2023."
Taking a dig at BJP for first criticising Lakshmir Bhandar and then copying it in states governed by the party, the CM said, "BJP follows a pattern in other states: before the vote, Rs 10,000 and after the vote, it's the bulldozer... But we give Rs 12,000 every year, consistently for many years. SC/ST families receive Rs 14,000, that is Rs 70,000 over five years. In other states, owning a bike or TV disqualifies you (from getting govt benefits). We do not make such distinctions," said Banerjee.
The CM said, "Work has begun on the second-largest coal and mining block in the world (Deucha-Pachami in Birbhum), which will create 1 lakh jobs. In Durgapur and Asansol, Rs 22,000 crore has been invested in shale, gas and oil factories. In Ashoknagar's ONGC zone, Rs 35,000 crore has been invested. In Bengal's Silicon Valley, more than 2,800 IT companies operate and more than 2 lakh IT professionals work. In manufacturing — Metro, travel infrastructure, heavy machinery, ship building, cement hubs, steel, leather hubs, garment clusters, large hosiery parks, foundry parks and big railway complexes — we have provided land... We are now at the top nationally in these sectors."
Bengal, she said, once led the country in manufacturing. "Today, in small-scale manufacturing alone, over 1.3 crore people are employed. Ninety-three lakh MSME units employ over 1.3 crore people. We have created 607 MSME clusters. Women-led MSMEs are leading in Bengal. Forty-two lakh youths have received skill training. In real estate, too, Rs 45,000 crore has been invested in just two years," Banerjee said.