Matir Srishti Scheme

West Bengal’s chief minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a development scheme called ‘Matir Srishti’. The scheme aims to aid farmers financially by helping them use fallow land. The scheme consists of using fallow lands in the ‘Paschimanchal’ or the western districts of Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum, Jhargram, Paschim Bardhaman, and Paschim Medinipur.

It aims in the economic upliftment of the farmer community with the help of activities such as horticulture, fisheries, and animal husbandry. It aims to exploit 50,000 acres of fallow land commercially that would benefit 2.5 lakh people of these six blocks.

Key Features of the Scheme:

•  Rural development: It aims to help the rural section of the society in the hard times such as pandemic. As the lockdown has also affected this section of the society at large, so to help people as well as revive economy this scheme was announced.
• Boasting Urban Economy: If the conditions in the rural areas get improved, it would have a positive impact on the urban economy as well. It will help balance the demand and supply graph.
• Employment opportunity in rural areas: Due to pandemics like situations and other reasons, people in rural areas are left with no employment in hand. So, it also helps in creating employment opportunities for jobless peoples in rural areas.
•  Effective utilization of fallow lands: The government will utilize the barren lands that were not being used because of low fertility.
• No middleman involvement: It will make the involvement of middlemen such as contractors null and void. The workers involved in this will directly get the benefit of this.

What is the Eligibility for the aspiring applicants or workers for the scheme:

• Financial Weak Section: The people in the rural area belonging to the EWS and the BPL groups are eligible to apply for the scheme.
• Residential Proof: It is launched in the West Bengal, so only the permanent residents of the state can avail the benefits of the scheme.
• Self Help Group’s: SHGs play an important role in the upliftment of the rural people and scaling up the rural economy. Hence, the members from SHGs can avail the scheme.
• Only Rural candidates: People residing in the rural section of the society are only eligible to avail this scheme.

What are the Necessary Documents to avail the benefits of the scheme:

• As the scheme says; it is mandatory to provide the residential proof of West Bengal at the time of registration.
• Any identity proof such as Aadhar Card, ration card, or any other.
• Beneficiaries must furnish their bank account details to get the amount directly credited in their bank account.
• The applicants also need to provide the skill certificate to help him identify whether he is a suitable fit or not.
•  Applicants coming from the SHGs end are needed to provide certificates at the time of their registration.