Retrograde legislation to evade payment: Bengal shows the way

West Bengal government's bill proposed to revoke, rescind, and discontinue all existing industrial incentive schemes and related obligations with retrospective effect from their respective dates of implementation.

- SUGATO HAZRA

Mamata Banerjee has been managing the state of West Bengal uninterrupted since 2011 based on three pillars—Populism, Policing and Propaganda. If one has to choose the most effective of these three pillars, populism stands out. In fact, it is the foundation of success for the other two pillars—policing and propaganda. Her populist policy of providing free money to people has created a deep-rooted support base for her administration. Thus, any corruption, nepotism or brutality receives much less attention to a large section of beneficiaries than their concern of the next round of funds flowing in their pockets. That this factor alone is politically critical—although denied by Trinamool Congress—was apparent in the Revocation of West Bengal Incentive Schemes and Obligations in the Nature of Grants and Incentives Bill, 2025. The new Act sought to reallocate state funds from financial incentives for industrial units to social welfare schemes, prioritising the needs of the marginalised. The fact that even a vocal opposition led by Suvendu Adhikary kept quiet on this illustrates the fact that doles are more important in the state than creating productive employment opportunities.