The West Bengal government has issued a notification announcing government jobs for eligible family members of people killed in political violence in the state since January 1, 2001, formalising a promise made by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at a rally in Garbeta on Saturday.
The notification, signed by Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal, states that one eligible member of each victim's family will be considered for appointment to a Group D post in the state government. The recruitment will cover various government departments, directorates, collectorates and other government offices.
The government has asked district magistrates to oversee the administrative process and examine cases of political violence before taking steps towards appointments.
Who will be eligible for the jobs?
According to the notification, the scheme will cover families of people killed in political violence on or after January 1, 2001. Eligible dependants include the deceased person's spouse, son or daughter, including legally adopted children.
In cases where an unmarried person was killed, a brother or sister may also be considered, subject to specified conditions. Only one member from each eligible family will be considered for appointment.
The notification also lays down eligibility conditions, including a monthly family income ceiling of Rs 50,000. Families with a member already employed in government service or paying income tax will not qualify under the scheme.
Applicants will have to submit supporting documents, including the death certificate, proof of their relationship with the deceased, the FIR and the chargesheet filed in the case. Applications will be examined by screening committees at the district and state levels. Applicants dissatisfied with a district-level decision will be able to appeal to the state-level committee within 30 days.
BJP fulfils a long-standing promise
The announcement marks the first such initiative by a BJP government in West Bengal to provide employment to families of people killed in political violence.
Since the 2021 Assembly elections, BJP leaders had repeatedly promised that the party would support the families of its workers killed in alleged post-poll violence if it came to power in the state. The Adhikari government has moved to implement that commitment before completing six months in office.
The scheme, however, is not restricted to deaths during the Trinamool Congress regime. By setting January 1, 2001, as the cut-off date, the government has included the final 11 years of Left Front rule, when several political violence cases involved the deaths of Trinamool Congress and Congress workers.
Political history of relief measures
The move comes against the backdrop of earlier political decisions concerning prisoners and victims of political violence in the state. After the Left Front formed its first government in 1977, then chief minister Jyoti Basu had announced the unconditional release of political prisoners.
The latest decision extends the government's support to families who lost members in political violence across different political regimes, with district administrations now tasked with identifying eligible cases and processing appointments.