TNI Bureau: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a slew of welfare and employment initiatives aimed at benefiting various sections of society. The announcements include a ₹5,000 increase in the honorarium of ASHA and ICDS workers and a monthly allowance of ₹5,000 for retired journalists.

The move is seen as a great support for retired journalists in the state, who have been having a tough time to earn a living in old age.

The Chief Minister also promised the recruitment of 50,000 teachers, non-teaching staff and professors, besides filling one lakh vacant government posts with 33 per cent reservation for women. Recruitment of 20,000 police personnel has also been proposed.

Among other measures, Adhikari announced a 20 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance (DA), a ₹2,000 increase in the monthly salaries of Civic Police, Village Police and Home Guards, and an additional ₹1,000 per month for Mid-Day Meal cooks.

He further proposed raising the MLA Local Area Development Fund from ₹70 lakh to ₹1 crore and introducing a monthly “Struggle Allowance” of ₹10,000 for political workers allegedly jailed in false cases. The measures have been presented as part of a broader agenda to boost employment, strengthen social security and improve governance in West Bengal.