CM Extends Jana Kalyan Shivir by a Day Amid Huge Turnout

MP, June 18, 2026, Kolkata: Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced a one-day extension of the statewide Jana Kalyan Shivir (JKS), which was originally scheduled to conclude on June 17.

The camps will now continue on Thursday as well, owing to the overwhelming public response and heavy turnout across the state.

“Logistical and time constraints had prevented the government from organising more camps at the local level. However, the unexpectedly large crowds queuing up at the camps reflect growing public confidence in the new administration. We have therefore issued a directive to continue the camps till June 18,” Adhikari said.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that citizens receive welfare benefits in a transparent manner, “without corruption or the involvement of middlemen”.

The Chief Minister highlighted three major welfare initiatives being promoted through the camps.

Among the 54 schemes currently being showcased, he described Ayushman Bharat as the most significant.

He said beneficiaries would be eligible for cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh annually at government and private hospitals across the country.

According to Adhikari, nearly 1.43 crore families and around 6.5 crore people in West Bengal stand to benefit from the scheme.

He also encouraged low-income rural households to register for the PM Surya Ghar Yojana at the JKS camps, under which subsidies of Rs 30,000 for 100 units, Rs 60,000 for 200 units and Rs 78,000 for 300 units would be provided.

The third major initiative highlighted by the Chief Minister was the Annapurna Yojana.

Explaining the beneficiary verification process, Adhikari alleged that large-scale irregularities had occurred under the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme run by the Trinamool Congress government.

He claimed that thousands of male beneficiaries had illegally received payments meant for women in districts such as Murshidabad and Nadia, and said investigations by the police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were underway.

He further claimed that more than 1.05 crore women had already registered for the scheme.

Their details, he said, were being verified and uploaded to the government portal, and benefits would be transferred to bank accounts from July 1.

The Chief Minister stated that women whose children attend government schools, government-recognised schools or private institutions affiliated with state or central boards would be eligible for Annapurna Yojana benefits after verification of their applications.

However, he said those sending their children to institutions imparting “anti-national” religious education or promoting “anti-India sentiments” would not be eligible, as such institutions fall outside the educational mainstream.

He further said that individuals who do not vaccinate their children, or who spread misinformation that vaccines cause harm or are linked to birth control, would also be excluded from the scheme.

Adhikari said the government would unveil several new initiatives for youth, government employees, educated job-seekers and farmers in the state budget scheduled to be presented on June 22.

He said Falta constituency would be developed as a model Assembly segment.

Plans include the creation of an industrial township within the local Special Economic Zone (SEZ), upgradation of Falta Rural Hospital into a 100-bed facility, establishment of a women’s college and a fire station, and strengthening of Falta Police Station, including the creation of a dedicated women’s help desk.

Highlighting alleged instances of financial corruption during the previous Trinamool regime in Falta, Adhikari claimed that during Cyclone Amphan, Rs 20,000 had been allocated from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the repair of every damaged house, but the money was siphoned off.

“I have obtained the full list of those involved in the irregularities and legal action will be taken against them very soon,” he said.

He also alleged corruption in the Banglar Bari scheme and directed the District Magistrate to take steps to recover unaccounted funds under the rural housing programme and initiate action against those involved in the alleged misappropriation.