Big decision of Suvendu cabinet, Imams and priests will not get government salary from June

Kolkata: The newly formed Suvendu Adhikari government of West Bengal has created a stir in the politics of the state by taking many historic and major policy decisions in its first cabinet meeting. The government has clarified that state welfare programs should not be based on religious identity in any way.

OBC list also canceled

Under this principle, the Cabinet has decided to completely stop all types of government financial assistance given to religious-based categories from the month of June. Following an old order of the Calcutta High Court, the existing OBC list of the state has also been cancelled.

There will be a ban after this month

After the cabinet meeting, state government minister Agnimitra Paul informed the media about the decisions. He said that all the schemes being run on religious basis by the departments of Information and Cultural Affairs, Minority Affairs and Madrassa Education will remain effective only till the end of this month (May) and they will be completely banned from June.

big change

Along with this, a special committee will also be formed to decide the fresh quota eligibility in the state. This step of the government is being considered as a major policy change in the administrative system of the state.

The previous government started power in 2012

It is noteworthy that the then Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of West Bengal, a year after assuming power in the state, had announced monthly honorarium for Imams, Muezzins and later temple priests. The first scheme in this regard was started in the year 2012, under which a monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500 was fixed for registered Imams coming from economically weaker sections in the entire state.

Soon after, a similar financial assistance program was started for ‘muezzins’ who call for prayers in mosques. The budget of both these schemes was allocated by the Minority Welfare Department.

Priests were also included in the plan

After giving financial assistance to Muslim religious leaders, the government was accused of all-round appeasement. To respond to these criticisms, the then state government also introduced monthly allowance for Hindu priests and priests in the year 2020.

how much salary did you get

Under this scheme, registered priests initially received a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000, which was later increased to Rs 2,000 per month just before the 2026 assembly elections. After this new decision of Suvendu Cabinet, now all these religious allowances will be stopped forever.