In his letter to Banerjee, which was released to thepress, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said the government wasdepriving people of the benefits of two central projects PMKisan and Ayushman Bharat Yojana -- "owing to narrow politicalconsiderations".
"It is a matter of concern that people are agitatingin East Midnapore, Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas over poorquality of grains and inadequate supply. Over 70 lakh farmerswould get help from the (Centre's) allocation of Rs 4,200crore under the PM-Kisan scheme, if the state opts for it.
"At the same time, Rs 2,714 crore allotted as incomesupport under Krishak Bandhu scheme for the year 2020-21should also be utilised," the letter said.
Ghosh urged the state government to provide afinancial aid of Rs 1,000 to every poor household and makearrangements for doorstep delivery of ration.
He demanded free COVID-19 treatment for the poor.
The state can provide free treatment to theunderprivileged without burdening its exchequer if it signs upfor the Centre's Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Ghosh noted.
The BJP MP said the government should procure 100 percent grains from the farmers and provide them an incentiveover and above the minimum support price for wheat and rice.
Ghosh, during the press meet, pointed out that 12hospitals in the state have either been closed partially orcompletely as frontline health workers there were placed underquarantine.
"From medical practitioners to police, many have beenput in isolation. The healthcare system is under seriousstress. What is the state doing? They are only delaying tests.The ICMR and various other agencies have voiced concern overthe low testing rate in the state," he said.
Bengal has reported an average of 232.25 tests permillion, far behind what the ratio is in most other states.
"Double the honorarium and salaries given tohealthcare workers, including nurses and Asha personnel, forthe next six months and provide them with adequate safetyequipment," the state BJP president said in the letter.
Iterating that the state government is hiding actualfigures of COVID-19 death, Ghosh said "this is only worseningthe situation".
The BJP MP further said that the government shouldtake measures to ensure that Bengal workers who have migratedto other states for work get to avail free of cost healthcare.
He suggested that the government make arrangements tobring back people stuck outside state at the earliest, andnecessary precautions be taken to avoid contamination.
The BJP leader also demanded that the audit committeeformed to certify the COVID-19 deaths be disbanded, allegingit was constituted to conceal the actual toll.
"We have requested the Union Health Ministry to sendanother central team to assess the situation. We hope that thestate, in the interest of the people of Bengal, shallcooperate with the team," Ghosh said. SUSRMS RMS