The West Bengal government has decided to revive the 100-day work scheme from the first week of June while also accelerating work on several key centrally sponsored projects, according to decisions taken at a high-level meeting held at Nabanna on Monday.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari chaired the coordination meeting with secretaries of 34 departments and issued a series of directions aimed at improving implementation and speeding up pending projects.

The government has decided to relaunch the 100-day work programme under a new structure, with the number of workdays increased from 100 to 125.

Officials have also been directed to ensure that the programme gains momentum immediately after its resumption, as it had remained inactive for a prolonged period.

The state budget is scheduled to be presented on June 22, and secretaries have been asked to frame their plans keeping in view the 50 centrally sponsored projects currently operating in the state.

The Chief Minister also instructed officials to conclude the agreement related to the Ayushman Bharat scheme by June 8.

Ghatal Master Plan among key focus areas

The Ghatal Master Plan received special attention during the meeting. The project, aimed at improving flood control and strengthening drainage infrastructure, had reportedly seen limited progress in recent years despite being initiated earlier.

Officials decided that the project would be implemented jointly by the Centre and the state, with both governments sharing the expenditure equally on a 50:50 basis.

The Chief Minister directed departments to finalize planning and ensure faster execution.

The revival of the 100-day work programme comes after the Centre had earlier halted fund allocation following allegations of corruption and irregularities.

The state subsequently launched the Karmashree scheme to employ for 50 to 70 days. With the return of the central programme, Karmashree is likely to be phased out.

Officials have also been asked to ensure strict compliance with guidelines. Aadhaar and voter ID cards will be mandatory for beneficiaries, and authorities have been instructed to maintain strict vigilance against any irregularities.

Questions remain, however, over whether the programme will begin immediately in districts such as South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad, where allegations of large-scale discrepancies had surfaced earlier.

Healthcare also featured prominently in the meeting. The Chief Minister stressed the need to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in North Bengal and reduce pressure on Kolkata-based medical facilities.

The issue of alleged irregularities in school uniform procurement also came up, with officials being asked to submit reports on quality checks and payment procedures.

Strict action has been ordered against those found responsible for any wrongdoing.