Bengal Cabinet Approves ‘Annapurna Yojana’ Financial Assistance Scheme for Women

PTI, May 12, 2026, Kolkata: The state Cabinet on Monday approved the rollout of the Annapurna Yojana scheme, under which women in the state will receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000.

The announcement was reportedly made during Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s meeting with party MLAs and other officials on Monday.

The move marks a significant increase from the existing Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which beneficiaries currently receive Rs 1,500 per month, while SC/ST women get Rs 1,700.

Further details regarding the implementation of the new scheme are still awaited.

During the Assembly election campaign, BJP leaders had promised that eligible women would receive financial assistance of up to Rs 3,000 per month if the party came to power in the state.

The Annapurna Yojana was included in the BJP’s election manifesto for West Bengal.

However, no official notification or detailed government guidelines regarding the Annapurna Yojana have been issued so far.

According to sources, the Cabinet has also approved free bus travel for women across the state.

The Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, launched by the Bengal government in February 2021, has been one of the state’s flagship welfare programmes aimed at providing financial assistance to women.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure that the state provides free travel for women in state-run buses from next month, sources at the state secretariat said.