Mamata Banerjee claims credit for Wi-Fi at railway stations initiative

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed credit for the initiative to provide Wi-Fi facilities at railway stations as she hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' campaign. "I had taken the initiative for this as Railway Minister in 2001. After that it did not progress. It is good that this initiative is being taken now," she told reporters.

She was reacting to Modi's announcement that Indian Railways and Google will collaborate to provide Wi-Fi connectivity at 500 railway stations in the country. "I welcome PM's Digital India initiative. Nobody is opposing the concept. But the initiative should begin from the grassroots level," Banerjee said.

She said the entire infrastructure and rural sector would have to be developed and "only then the concept of digital India will be successful".

Banerjee, who is scheduled to participate in a meeting on Federalism in Delhi tomorrow, said, "We want a stronger federal structure. The Planning Commission and some other such bodies were abolished by the Centre."

They are announcing social sector reforms projects without consulting the state government and, as a result, "a disastrous situation" is emerging.

She claimed outlays on many social sector programmes like mid-day meal scheme, ICDS, Sarba Siksha Abhiyan and JNNURM have been curtailed by the Centre.