Can Suvendu Adhikari's monthly reviews energise Bengal's administrative culture?

West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, on May 25, chaired a high-level meeting with secretaries of 34 departments at Nabanna, the state’s administrative headquarters in Kolkata, in what is seen as an effort to accelerate the pace of governance and strengthen inter-governmental coordination.

The meeting marked the beginning of what the BJP government intends to make a more proactive and tightly coordinated administrative structure, with the chief minister directing officials to immediately restart the 100-day rural employment scheme.

The government has decided that such coordination meetings with departmental secretaries would be held every month. Administrative sources said the move is aimed at ensuring faster decision-making, closer monitoring of projects and smoother inter-departmental functioning.

Among the key issues discussed at the meeting, special emphasis was laid on the long-pending Ghatal Masterplan, a project considered crucial for flood control and drainage management in large parts of southern Bengal. While the previous Trinamool Congress government had initiated work on the project, officials believe its implementation remained slow and fragmented for years. The new administration wants to fast-track the project.

It was decided at the meeting that the Ghatal Masterplan be implemented jointly by the Centre and the state government, with both sides sharing the project cost equally. Adhikari instructed the concerned departments to begin the process of finalising financial allocations, technical planning and coordination with the Union government at the earliest. According to officials, successful implementation of the project could provide a long-term solution to the recurring flood crisis affecting large parts of West Midnapore and adjoining regions.

Healthcare delivery also figured prominently in the discussions. Stressing the need for urgent decisions regarding the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Adhikari directed the health secretary to ensure that the agreement related to the central health programme is finalised by June 8. He made it clear that there should be no further delay in implementing the scheme in Bengal.

The state government has simultaneously begun preparations for the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on June 11. The meeting will be significant as Adhikari is set to attend it for the first time as chief minister of West Bengal. In preparation, all departments have been instructed to submit detailed reports on development projects, the state’s financial condition, pending priorities and future policy proposals within a timeframe.

Rural employment and economic activity were also highlighted as major priorities during the meeting. By directing officials to restart the 100-day work scheme, the government appears keen to revive rural spending and employment generation at the grassroots level.

Taken together, the May 25 meeting signalled the BJP government’s attempt to project an administration that is more centralised, coordinated and execution-driven while simultaneously trying to balance development priorities, Centre-state cooperation and administrative efficiency.

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