File photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Press Trust of India)
Sharing stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today called for better coordination between states and the Centre for overall development of the states and the country.
"If the states and the Centre work together in coordination, it will help in the overall development of the masses," Banerjee said at the launch of social security schemes by the Prime Minister at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata.
Ms Banerjee, who shared the stage with PM Modi for the first time since he assumed office, also urged the PM to ensure that at least every panchayat in the country is covered by banking services.
"After I came to power in 2011 more than 1,000 panchayats out of 3,500 in the state did not have banks. Then we offered one rupee rent to banks and asked them to open branches. We have been able to open 171 banks out of the 1,000 left. I would request the Centre to see that at least every panchayat is covered by banking services so that it helps the poor," she said.
Referring to Banerjee's statement, PM Modi, during his speech, said "the West Bengal chief minister said many panchayats do not have bank branches. She believes it is me who can do it."
Citing the achievements of the TMC government in the empowerment of girls, Banerjee spoke about the success of the 'Kanyashree' project which has covered 24 lakh girl child in the state.