Kolkata, May 11 (UNI) The newly formed West Bengal government on Monday outlined a series of administrative, security, and welfare-related measures following its first cabinet meeting at the state secretariat, Nabanna, including land transfer to the Border Security Force (BSF) for border fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border and the introduction of the Centre’s various social welfare programmes, including the Ayushman Bharat health scheme, in the state.
“At our very first Cabinet meeting today, we have taken the decision to transfer the land to the BSF (Border Security Force). The process of transferring this land commences today. It will be transferred to the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs)within the next 45 days. Once this is accomplished, the BSF will complete the border fencing, and the ongoing issue of illegal infiltration will be resolved within a short period," chief minister Adhikari said minutes after stepping out of the cabinet meeting.
The allocation of land along the Indo-Bangladesh border to the BSF for building border infrastructure and addressing infiltration was one of the main issues raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the election campaign in Bengal.
The BJP had accused the erstwhile Trinamool Congress (TMC) led state government in the state of purposefully not letting out land to the BSF to build infrastructure, alleging that the TMC actively supported cross-border infiltrators who, in turn, were converted into a vote bank across nine border districts.
A large section of the 2216.7km land border that the state shares with Bangladesh is not fenced.
Adhikari also announced a relaxation in the age limit for government jobs in a bid to address the unemployment issue plaguing the state.
“We decided to have an age relaxation of five years on the upper limit for applying to government jobs in the state,” Adhikari said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister said the administration would prioritise “good governance, security, and development” while aligning the state more closely with several flagship schemes of the Centre.
“We have had a free, fair, and peaceful election in the state. I am thankful to the people for placing their trust in us to form the government in West Bengal,” Adhikari said.
Among the key announcements made by the chief minister was the state’s decision to formally join the Ayushman Bharat health insurance programme.
“We have instructed senior officials in the health department to get in touch with their counterparts at the union Health Ministry and complete the formalities at the earliest,” Adhikari who was flanked by his cabinet colleagues Dilip Ghosh, Nishith Pramanik, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania and Kshudiram Tudu.
Apart from the Ayushman Bharat scheme the stage will also be brought under the aegis of other Central government welfare schemes including the Jan Arogya Yojana, Fasal Bima and Ujala Yojana schemes, PM Shri among others Adhikari said at the meeting.
The Chief Minister also announced reforms in the state’s administrative framework, including plans to connect IAS officers with centralised training mechanisms. In addition, the government intends to align state procedures with provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s new criminal code framework.
During his remarks, Mr Adhikari criticised the previous administration for allegedly delaying the implementation of certain directives issued by the union Home Ministry relating to census procedures.
“We have today issued an administrative directive confirming the commencement of census operations. This long-pending exercise is at last being set in motion after an eleven-month delay.
On 16 June 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, had released the official notification. Nearly a year has now elapsed since then. The census process was intentionally delayed by those in power. Their purpose was to hinder the Prime Minister’s initiative to carry out delimitation and secure reservation benefits for women, particularly our mothers and sisters.
"We will have a fact-finding committee to look into this,” Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister also assured residents that existing social welfare schemes would continue, though he stressed that stricter verification systems would be introduced to improve transparency and prevent misuse of benefits.
“We will not let unscrupulous people take advantage of these schemes through back doors and loopholes. Everything will be transparent,” Adhikari added.
The newly-formed government has also pledged support to affected families and the near and dear ones of “321 martyrs of the BJP”. Adhikari also said that strict action will be taken against those involved in political killings.
On May 6, Adhikari’s personal assistant Chandranath Rath was gunned down while he was retuning to his Madhyamgram home in North 24 Parganas.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari received a red-carpet welcome as he took charge at the state secretariat, Nabanna, two days after taking oath for the high office.
Adhikari, who reached Nabanna at 11:08 am wearing a white kurta and pyjama, was received by senior administrative and police officials as the red carpet was rolled out for him.
He was given a formal salute after inspecting a guard of honour from the state police personnel, amidst heightened security arrangements at the secretariat. UNI SEN SAS AAB