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Suvendu announces citizenship, welfare and development measures for Matuas. (Img: IANS)
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced that his government would speed up the processing of pending applications and issue citizenship certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to 2.5 lakh applicants in the state by December 31.
Addressing the International Matua Gosai Convention 2026 at Thakurnagar in Bongaon, North 24-Parganas, Adhikari also promised to help newly recognised citizens get their names included in the electoral rolls when the next revision exercise begins in January 2027.
"There are so far 2.5 lakh petitions (for citizenship certificates) pending across Bengal. We will complete the hearing process and issue them citizenship certificates by December 31 this year," Suvendu said. "When the fresh revision of electoral rolls begins in January, we will help include the newly recognised citizens as voters."
The announcements come amid concerns within sections of the Matua community over the exclusion of several voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The issue has also gained significance amid a nationwide campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Adhikari sought to address concerns over citizenship, voting rights and access to welfare schemes, while highlighting the community's political influence in the state.
"There are at least 70 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal where the Matuas have played an important role in electing BJP candidates and bringing this government to power. Whatever demands you make, this government will try to fulfil them within the legal and constitutional provisions of the country," he said.
Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's earlier announcement that the authority to issue CAA citizenship certificates would be delegated to state governments, as in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Adhikari said Bengal had received similar powers from the Union Home Ministry around two months ago.
"In the presence of home ministry officials, we organised a workshop at Nabanna, attended by district magistrates, where specific guidelines have been issued to them about the process of granting citizenship certificates," he added.
He also announced that eligible Scheduled Caste members, particularly those belonging to the Namasudra community, would be issued caste certificates after obtaining citizenship.
Adhikari said around 25,000 people had already received citizenship certificates. He added that he had instructed the chief secretary to expedite the issuance of caste certificates to eligible beneficiaries among them.
The chief minister also promised to restore financial assistance to women who had lost access to welfare benefits after their names were removed from the electoral rolls.
He said eligible women between 25 and 60 years of age would be brought under the Annapurna Yojana after receiving citizenship certificates. Those above 60 would be assisted in accessing old-age pension benefits.
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He further promised health coverage under Ayushman Bharat or the state's health insurance scheme.
"This is your government. You should get your demands fulfilled from this government," he said.
Adhikari promised to reconstitute the Matua Welfare Board and empower it to formulate and implement development projects for the community. He announced an allocation of Rs 50 crore for the board in the current financial year.
He also outlined infrastructure and cultural initiatives for Thakurnagar, considered the spiritual headquarters of the Matua community.
The existing 15-bed Chandpara health centre will be upgraded into a 100-bed hospital named after Matua matriarch Binapani Devi. The facility will also have a special neonatal care unit and a Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi medicine outlet, he said.
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Adhikari further announced that Thakurnagar would be granted municipality status in the state's next budget.
He also promised to build a grand temple at Matua Mahatirtha in Thakurnagar, dedicated to the community's spiritual leaders, Harichand and Guruchand Thakur. He expressed his wish to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the temple.
