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a large number of boys are dropping a share of the total industrial output Psephologists in Kolkata agree that
out of the school system. A survey of India plunged from 9.8 percent in Banerjee’s welfare schemes, especial-
released in July 2021 by the Unified 1980-81 to 5 percent in 1997. ly for education, played a major role
District Information System for Edu- However, high hopes of an indus- in TMC bucking anti-incumbency and
cation Plus (UDISE+) has highlighted trial revival after the Mamata Baner- winning three consecutive assembly
that while the dropout rate of girls is jee-led TMC routed the CPM-led Left elections. But this time around, major
13.6 percent, for boys it is 14.1 percent. Front parties in the assembly election scandals have surfaced in the educa-
Unsurprisingly, the number of regis- of 2011, have been belied. Instead of tion sector, especially several teacher
tered unemployed youth in Bengal is rejecting agitational Marxist politics, recruitment scams forcing the Cal-
a massive at 7.6 million. Banerjee and TMC party cadres have cutta high court to freeze recruit-
Although Banerjee’s critics blame continued the state’s tradition of con- ment. Moreover, recent incidents of
the TMC government for high un- frontational anti-industry policies violence perpetrated by TMC cadres
employment, Bengal’s job market which have depressed business confi- against women of Sandeshkhali vil-
started deteriorating during 34 years dence and failed to attract investment lage in the North 24-Parganas has
of uninterrupted rule (1977-2011) of necessary for generating employment. dented Banerjee’s pro-women femi-
the CPM (Communist Party of India- As a result, overt and disguised unem- nist image.
Marxist)-led Left Front government ployment is rife in the state which un- In General Election 2019, BJP
when labour militancy and violence til the mid-1960s was the industry and bagged 18 of Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha
was officially encouraged and there commerce epicentre of India. seats — up from a mere 2 in 2014.
was a continuous flight of capital and West Bengal’s 2024-25 budget This time with prime minister Naren-
industry from the state. The damage packed with welfare schemes has dra Modi having set the target of BJP
suffered by West Bengal’s economy ballooned the state’s fiscal deficit to winning all 42 Lok Sabha seats in the
by capital flight during the Left Front Rs.68,250 crore, nearly 37 percent General Election 2024, Mamata Ba-
government rule was huge. The value higher than in 2023-24, stoking fear nerjee has a real fight on her hands.
of industrial output of West Bengal as of inflation. Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)

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