Bengal FM presents Rs 3.6 lakh cr budget

Special 'gender and child' financial plan introduced Financial assistance under 'Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme raised 

PTI, Kolkata, Feb 8, 2024 : West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Thursday presented the budget for 2024-25 with a slew of policies for social welfare and employment generation, even as she accused the Centre of imposing a “financial blockade” on the state. 

Tabling a budget of Rs 3,66,166 crore, Bhattacharya said the monthly financial assistance under the ‘Lakhsmir Bhandar’ scheme has been raised to Rs 1,200 for the SC and ST community, whereas for other categories, it has been increased to Rs 1,000. 

"The Centre has imposed a financial blockade on West Bengal. But, we will not cow down. The state's dues from the central government is nearly Rs 1.18 lakh crore," she said. 

The minister also announced an additional 4 per cent dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees from May, in addition to the 4 per cent that was declared in January. Bhattacharya said her government introduced a 'Gender and Child Budget Statement' in this year's budget. 

"The Centre has imposed a financial blockade on West Bengal. But, we will not cow down. The state's dues from the Central government is nearly Rs 1.18 lakh crore," she said. The minister also announced an additional four per cent dearness allowance (DA) for state government employees from May, in addition to the 4 per cent that was declared in January. 

The Finance Minister said her government introduced a 'Gender and Child Budget Statement' in this year's budget. 

Bhattacharya said that West Bengal's cultural ethos reflects profound reverence for women and affection for children. The state government has undertaken various initiatives to address the persistent challenges faced by women and children to create a safe and inclusive environment for their empowerment and development. 

The Gender and Child Budget was taken up to formalise the goals into fiscal commitments, translating into better results through continuance in policy and improved accountability, the minister said. 

The allocation for the gender budget for 2024-25 is Rs 21,380 crore under 100 per cent women specific schemes and Rs 74,891 crore for schemes with 30 per cent to 99 per cent dedicated to the development and empowerment of women, totalling Rs 96,271 crore for 2024-25. The budget has been prepared by analysing the demands for grants of various departments specifically intended for expenditure relating to women and children, the minister said. 

Some of the existing schemes that seek to bring about empowerment of women and children are Lakshmir Bhandar', Kanyashree' and Sishu Sathi' among others. While Lakshmir Bhandar' and Kanyashree' are financial assistance schemes for women and school girls respectively, children who need heart surgery are provided free treatment under Sishu Sathi' scheme. The finance department of the state government works in tandem with UNICEF, women and child welfare department and others, she said.