In a significant move ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, the West Bengal government on Saturday rolled out a ₹8,000-crore grassroots outreach programme titled Amader Para, Amader Samadhan (Our Neighbourhood, Our Solution). The initiative aims to address hyper-local civic issues like road repairs, street lighting, and water supply by directly engaging citizens at the booth level.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that 632 camps were operational across the state on the first day of the programme. In a post on X, she said, “Today, on the first day of ‘Amader Para Amader Samadhan’ (APAS), 632 camps are being held across the state.” She described the programme as a flagship effort to “institutionalise participatory governance and re-imagine grassroots service delivery through people-engagement and empowerment.”
According to the chief minister, the scheme will cover over 80,000 polling booths through more than 27,000 camps, with ₹10 lakh allocated per booth. (Theorist photo)
According to the chief minister, the scheme will cover over 80,000 polling booths through more than 27,000 camps, with ₹10 lakh allocated per booth. Duare Sarkar counters, previously introduced to deliver state-run services at people’s doorsteps, have also been integrated within the APAS camps.
Task Forces to Monitor Implementation; Citizens to Guide Local Budget Use
The state government has constituted a task force led by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to monitor the initiative, with additional task forces at the district level. Camps began functioning on Saturday and will continue for two months, followed by a 30-day administrative evaluation period. Local infrastructure issues identified during this time will be addressed over the subsequent three months.
ALSO READ: Mamata Banerjee announces ₹1.10 lakh grant for Durga Puja committees
In Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas, each APAS camp will cater to two polling booths. A senior government official noted that many civic issues, while hyper-local in nature, require urgent attention. “This interactive initiative is an inclusive one where various things can be brought up for being sorted out under one umbrella,” the official added.
Banerjee has urged residents to participate actively. “I invite the people to visit their camps and participate in the discussions to make APAS a grand success,” she said, also expressing gratitude to officials and stakeholders for the programme’s smooth launch.
The programme emphasizes transparency and public participation, with citizens able to track schedules, progress, and fund allocation for their booths at [apas.wb.gov.in](https://apas.wb.gov.in). Officials will be present on the ground to register demands and grievances, reinforcing what the government called an “unprecedented” effort in participatory governance and self-reliant state-building.
