Mamata Banerjee says 30,000 policemen can't protect 10 cr people, wants to field sportsmen to spike crime

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today showered a bonanza of Rs 40 crore on local clubs to promote sports and sought help from them to combat crime in the state.

"Some 30,000 policemen cannot protect 10 crore people in the state. I urge the members of clubs to be on the alert and to prevent crimes against women and theft," Banerjee, said while handing over cheques to the clubs.

Banerjee said Rs 2 lakh each would be provided to 1631 local clubs across the state.

Last year 781 clubs received a similar amount and from this year would continue to get Rs one lakh a year.

Banerjee expected that the total number of clubs would increase to close to 2000 since applications from North Dinajpur and Murshidabad districts remained poor so far.

Banerjee also announced that sportsmen in the state would be awarded from the next year.

The state would also offer full sponsorship to 50 sportsmen from different categories.

An expert group and taskforce on sports to fulfill the state's missions in sports would also be established.

Banerjee said that in line with the job data bank there would be a sports data bank and also on stadia.

Countering the criticism that development work had stopped, Banerjee said employment has been given for filling up 40,000 posts in the police, while 151 fast track courts have been established.

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