Around 30 L beneficiaries of TMC govt's directcash transfer scheme for women ineligible: CM

Questions Raised Over Eligibility in Women’s Direct Cash Assistance Scheme

PTI, May 27, 2026, Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said that around 30 lakh beneficiaries of ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’, a financial assistance scheme for women introduced by the previous TMC government, were ineligible as they were either non-Indians or their names were permanently deleted from the voter list.

Adhikari introduced a form for the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme, as announced by the BJP government to provide Rs 3,000 per month for eligible women in the state.

Addressing a press conference at the state administrative headquarters, Nabanna, Adhikari said:

“Approximately 30 lakh beneficiaries” were receiving Lakshmir Bhandar assistance despite being ineligible, as their names had been permanently deleted from the voter list, or they had not applied to an SIR-linked tribunal or for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for inclusion.

He said that the CAA applicants and those who have appealed to an SIR-linked tribunal after adjudication for entry on the voter list would, however, be eligible for the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP had promised in its manifesto to introduce the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’, replacing the erstwhile Mamata Banerjee government’s ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’.