KOLKATA: In a fiery press conference on Sunday, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh defended West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s latest welfare initiative, ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi’, branding it a testament to her forward-thinking leadership. Amid BJP’s sharp criticism, Ghosh dismissed the opposition’s jabs, positioning the scheme as a cornerstone of the state’s robust social security framework.
The ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi’ program targets unemployed youth aged 21 to 40 who have passed secondary exams. It promises monthly financial aid of Rs 1,500 until they secure jobs or for a maximum of five years. Applications opened February 15 through camps in every assembly constituency, with benefits kicking in from April 1, 2026.
Ghosh emphasized that this isn’t a poll-time gimmick but an extension of longstanding schemes like Rupashree, Swasthya Sathi, and Lakshmir Bhandar. ‘We’ve built nearly 100 such programs, creating a safety net unmatched elsewhere,’ he asserted.
Turning the tables on BJP, Ghosh accused them of hypocrisy. ‘They call our schemes ‘alms’ like they did with Lakshmir Bhandar, yet copy them in their own states. Bihar’s announcements are straight out of Mamata Didi’s playbook,’ he quipped. He reminded the audience of BJP’s unfulfilled promise of 2 crore jobs, contrasting it with Banerjee’s focus on holistic development.
On a tragic incident involving a female student attempting suicide after poor exam results, Ghosh refused to politicize it. ‘Police are investigating; such rare cases happen in any large society, but they’ve declined under our watch. Students from other states flocking here for education speaks volumes about our progress,’ he noted.
Ghosh wrapped up by praising Banerjee’s government and urging youth to avail the scheme, contributing to Bengal’s growth. With BJP seemingly rattled, he predicted more opposition bluster ahead.