Every Durga Puja Committee to Receive Rs 1.10 Lakhs in 2022; BJP Labels It as a Frivolous Spending
In the vibrant city of Kolkata, the grand festival of Durga Puja remains a significant cultural event, attracting thousands of visitors each year. This year, the Kolkata government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has announced a substantial increase in financial aid for Durga Puja organizers.
During a puja organizers' meeting, Banerjee stated, "Last time I gave Rs 85,000. Should I make it Rs 90,000 this time? Let me see who wants what? 90 (thousand)...95 (thousand)...1 (lakh)? Okay, 1.10 lakhs. Happy now?" The announcement received immediate applause.
The increased funding, from Rs 85,000 last year to Rs 1.10 lakh for 2026, is part of a broader pre-poll strategy. The government aims to ease financial burdens ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, emphasizing Durga Puja's cultural significance as a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage and a unifying state festival.
Alongside the increased grant, Puja committees will receive an 80% rebate on their electricity bills and a waiver of all government fees and taxes, including fire brigade fees. This move supports over 40,000 Durga Puja committees statewide.
However, the BJP has criticized this decision, with state BJP president, Sameek Bhattacharya, calling it a waste of taxpayers' money. Bhattacharya implied that the government's funds could be better used to pay DA arrears to employees.
Despite the criticism, Bhattacharya acknowledged the importance of Durga Puja, stating that the festival will happen regardless of the funds provided by the government. However, specific details about the BJP's response to this funding increase remain unspecified in current sources.
Meanwhile, the sports portfolio was given to a minister despite an incident, but the article did not provide details about the circumstances or the decision-making process. The opposition has criticized this decision, although the exact identity of the minister involved was not specified.
As the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections approach, the Durga Puja funding increase is expected to cost around Rs 400 crores, a significant investment in cultural preservation and electoral outreach. The festival remains a beacon of Kolkata's rich cultural heritage, bringing together thousands of people in celebration and unity.
- The ongoing political discourse in West Bengal, centered on the Durga Puja funding increase, includes policy-and-legislation discussions, with the Trinamool Congress and BJP providing contrasting views on the issue, highlighting crime-and-justice concerns such as the utilization of taxpayers' money.
- The general news landscape is filled with reports of the Durga Puja funding increase, detailing the politics surrounding the decision, while also emphasizing the cultural significance of the event, which is recognized as an intangible heritage by UNESCO, in the lead-up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
