The West Bengal government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has announced a comprehensive re-verification of caste certificates issued since 2011. This move comes in response to widespread allegations of irregularities during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration, highlighting a significant shift in the state’s governance approach toward caste-based documentation.

On Friday, officials from the State Backward Classes Welfare Department communicated directives to district magistrates across West Bengal, emphasizing the need to embark on the re-verification process. This initiative is set to affect approximately 1.6 crore caste certificates that have been distributed over the past 15 years, with a substantial number categorized as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

According to reports, around 1 crore of these certificates pertain to SC, approximately 21 lakh relate to ST, and about 48 lakh are for OBC. The state government has expressed concerns regarding the “authenticity and genuineness” of these certificates, suggesting that many may have been issued improperly during the tenure of the TMC government. The order explicitly mandates that the re-verification should be conducted by the respective authorities, adhering to established norms and protocols.

State Tribal Development and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Kshudiram Tudu has emphasized the necessity of this re-verification process, pointing out the issuance of numerous fake and irregular certificates in the previous regime. This move not only seeks to restore credibility in the caste certification process but also aims to ensure that genuine beneficiaries can access the rightful benefits associated with these classifications.

Legal repercussions and stringent actions are promised against any certificates proven to have been fraudulently issued, indicating the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards such malpractices. The re-verification initiative is expected to bolster the integrity of the caste certification system in West Bengal, reaffirming the government’s commitment to transparency and justice.