Chief minister Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning to the land department officials for harassing farmers unnecessarily even though land rent (khajna) has been waived and thereby bringing the government a bad name.

“We have waived the khajna but it is being heard that Block Land Revenue Officers are harassing farmers unnecessarily. Such attitude of officers is in turn bringing in a bad name for our government. This will not be tolerated,” said Miss Banerjee while addressing the administrative review meeting for Hooghly district in Gurap.

Miss Banerjee launched schemes and projects related to the development of roads, health, housing, agriculture, drinking water and job opportunities.

She took a detailed account of the ongoing development work, pending development work and services.

Miss Banerjee directed the Hooghly district administration to be transparent, effective and time bound in providing services to the common people. She asked the district administration to undertake surprise inspection and monitoring of the services rendered by them to the common people.

She made it clear that she would not tolerate the careless and indifferent attitude of the administrative officials that brings a bad name to the state government.

She expressed her displeasure at the performance of some of the schemes namely Swastha Sathi, Krishak Bandu, crop insurance and issuance of caste certificates for backward classes. She directed the district administration to promptly open accounts in existing co-operative banks in the district for the farmers under the Krishak Bandhu scheme in areas that lack bank linkages.

The chief minister laid stress on setting up camps in the month of September and November to enroll the deprived farmers under the schemes of Swastha Sathi, Krishak Bandhu and Sorse Bima.

She strictly warned the administration officials not to harass the needy, the farmers and backward classes by repeatedly asking to furnish papers and documents to avail the benefits of government schemes.

She said the SC and ST certificates must be issued based on the link with the residential locality, family background and title name. Services must be rendered to the common people in a fixed time period stressed the chief minister.