CM Mamata Banerjee Renames West Bengal's Job Guarantee Scheme 'Karmashree' After Mahatma Gandhi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state government’s employment scheme ‘Karmashree’ will be renamed after Mahatma Gandhi, expressing strong displeasure over the removal of the Father of the Nation’s name from welfare schemes at the national level. Speaking at a public event, Banerjee said she felt “ashamed” that Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy was being sidelined and asserted that the state would uphold national values if the Centre failed to do so. The scheme, which guarantees 75 to 100 days of employment, will now bear Mahatma Gandhi’s name. Taking a swipe at the Centre, Banerjee said Bengal would continue to respect Gandhi’s ideals and inclusive ethos. She also invoked leaders such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, B.R. Ambedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Sardar Patel, reiterating her commitment to unity, dignity and social justice.