In the Lok Sabha elections 2019, the BJP has bettered its performance from two seats in 2014 to 18 this year, in the 42 seats of the state of West Bengal. The TMC, which won 22 Lok Sabha seats, has sought to refurbish its image in order to counter an aggressive and ideology-driven BJP in the state.
The All India Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has launched the Didi Ke Bolo (Tell Didi; Didi is a term used to address Mamata Banerjee in the state) campaign to address public grievances and suggestions for the betterment of the people.
Didi Ke Bolo is a unique public outreach program aiming to improve West Bengal’s people participation and engagement between the government and citizens. The campaign received an overwhelming response with more than one lakh people making calls on the first day. In just 30 days, the campaign reached more than 75 lakh people over Facebook. Mamata Banerjee also assured that her party is committed to work overtime to resolve their grievances.
Mamata Banerjee worked on West Bengal state’s development balancing everything and reaching all levels of people’s expectations in the state. Through different schemes, she has guaranteed that the people of West Bengal lead a life of dignity. A number of schemes were introduced for the rural welfare in West Bengal and some have been a huge success.
Some of the schemes include Utkarsh Bangla, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Shishu Sathi Scheme, Sufal Bangla, Sabujshree, Krishak Bandhu Scheme and many more. For women welfare, she introduced Kanyashree Prakalpa and the Sabala Scheme. For adolescent girls, Rupashree Prakalpa has transformed lives. For children, she introduced the Shishu Sathi Scheme, Sabooj Sathi Scheme, and the Khadya Sathi Scheme. She has always stood up for the people of West Bengal, not only at the grassroot levels, but she also ensured that every citizen’s voice will be heard.
With this motive, Didi Ke Bolo aims to reach 80% of the households in West Bengal to inform and engage with them over the next 20 months. To achieve this, TMC workers and MLAs are working 24×7 to meet local cadres and influential persons in villages, conducting Jan Sangjog Sabhas at pre-identified locations with local party workers and booth-level members in 1,022 villages. Door-to-door visits, party flag-hoisting and spending a night at the house of one of the local party members is being done to draw more engagement to this campaign.
During the mass outreach program, TMC leaders have faced tough time answering uncomfortable questions about extortion, cut money, syndicates and alleged arrogance of local TMC leaders. But they assured the people that steps will be taken to address these issues.
The Didi Ke Bolo campaign is getting a phenomenal response. Media houses are appreciating the efforts of the state government for providing a better engagement program which will help in resolving the problems in the state. The people from West Bengal are considering it as a very good opportunity to solve their problems.