New Scheme “Samarthan” for the victims of Demonetization
Government of West Bengal
Finance Department
Audit Branch
No. 1158-F(Y) Dated, Howrah, the 23rd February, 2017
NOTIFICATION
Consequent upon-demonetization by the Union Government in November, 2016 a large number of workers of our state mainly of unorganized sector working in other States outside West Bengal have lost their employment and were forced, to return to West Bengal as jobless workers and are presently living in a pitiable condition.
2. In order to provide some relief and enable labourers to start an alternative business/ self-employment, the Governor is pleased to introduce a new scheme called “Samarthan” (সমৰ্থন) as detailed below.
The Scheme:
1. Samarthan (সমৰ্থন):
(i) The new Scheme called “Samarthan” (সমৰ্থন) will provide financial assistance to such labourers/ workers who have migrated back to the State, to enable them start an alternative business/ self-employment scheme.
(ii) The financial assistance in the form of One Time Grant of Rs. 50,000/- will be given to such a labourer/ worker.
(iii) The labourer/ worker can take up any scheme from this fund, which will provide him a sustainable source of income.
2 The detailed modalities of this Scheme are given below:
A. Eligibility:
Any labourer/ worker who is a permanent resident of West Bengal, working in other States, and was, compelled to return back to State of West Bengal after 8th November, 2016 due to loss of job in that State, will be eligible for the assistance on fulfilment of following conditions –
(i) The worker/ labourer is a bread-winner of the family.
(ii) BDO in consultation with local police administration certifies that the applicant was actually working outside the state and has returned to the State after 8th November, 2016 due to loss of his job.
(iii) The applicant must have an EPIC to prove that he is a permanent resident of West Bengal.
(iv) Applicant must submit a copy of the passbook of any savings account of Post Office, Scheduled Commercial Banks, Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, etc. providing the Account details where the grant will be credited online.
B. How to Apply:
Eligible candidates to submit an Application (as per enclosed Format – Annexure-B) alongwith the scheme he proposes to undertake.
3. Processing and Approval:
a) District Magistrate will make arrangements to invite/ receive applications, inquire, process and recommend to Approval Committee.
b) Approval Committee:
A Committee as given in “Annexure – A” under the Chairmanship of District Magistrate will select the beneficiaries.
4. Nodal Department:
The Labour Department, Government of West Bengal will act as Nodal Department for the implementation, monitoring and supervision of the scheme.
5. Implementation:
Since the most affected districts by demonetization are – Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Burdwan, Birbhum, Nadia, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Cooch Behar and Howrah, in phase-I the Scheme will be implemented in these 10 districts.
In other districts, District Magistrates will assess the situation and numbers of affected persons and intimate Labour Department.
6. Effective Date:
The Scheme will come into effect immediately.
Sd/- H.K. Dwivedi
Principal Secretary to the
Government of West Bengal