CM Announces ₹3,000 Annapurna Assistance for 1.2 Crore Women from July 1

MP, July 1, 2026, Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday said that the beneficiaries of ‘Annapurna Yojana’ will start getting the benefits from July 1 and that Rs 3,000 will be credited to the bank account of 1.20 crore women, including 5 lakh tribal women.

“Around 1 crore 51 lakh people in the state had applied for the Annapurna Yojana. After scrutiny, we have been able to enrol the names of 1 crore 20 lakh people in this list. From July 1, Rs 3,000 under the Annapurna Yojana will be transferred to their accounts,” Adhikari said.

The Chief Minister also said his government has asked the Tribal Development Department to prepare a special package of Rs 350 crore for developing Adivasi-dominated areas in the state, while accusing the previous TMC dispensation of neglecting their welfare.

“We have asked our Tribal Development Department to prepare a special package of Rs 350 crore for the development of the Adivasi areas in the state,” he said.

Addressing a public gathering during the Hul festival celebrations at Mukutmanipur in Bankura, the Chief Minister asserted that his government is committed to ensuring comprehensive development for tribal communities across the state.

Adhikari also stated that the monthly food allowance meant for tribal students has been enhanced to Rs 3,300.

Announcing plans for long-term regional development in Junglemahal, Adhikari said: “We shall prepare a development corridor connecting Jharkhand and the Durgapur industrial zone through Junglemahal districts, which will help improve lives and generate opportunities. We have asked the Tribal Welfare Department to identify land for a state-of-the-art hospital here.”

“Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given official status to Olchiki — your language. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has honoured a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, by making her the country’s first tribal President,” Adhikari added.

Speaking of tribal representation, the Chief Minister said: “Our BJP government accommodates 17 tribal MLAs, including Kashipur in Purulia, although there were only 16 seats reserved for tribal communities. You voted wholeheartedly for us and now it is our turn to deliver true welfare to people who remained marginalised for decades,” he said.

“For Lodha, Birhor and Sabar communities, we have prepared an alternative food security system and they will start receiving its benefits from August. We have also added an additional Rs 500 to the previous government’s Jai Johar pension,” he said.

Unleashing an attack on the previous Trinamool Congress government for allegedly denying tribal communities their basic needs, Adhikari said tribal people deserve to receive the full benefits of development and social welfare initiatives.

“Our government is committed to giving the benefits of all-round development, including absolute food and lifestyle security, educational and medical facilities, and better avenues of livelihood support,” he added.

Incidentally, the Jai Johar scheme, introduced by the Mamata Banerjee government in April 2020, had provided a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 for elderly tribal beneficiaries.

Attacking the previous government further, Adhikari stated: “The previous government allocated a meagre Rs 6 crore for the entire 75 blocks of Junglemahal districts, which we have increased up to Rs 1,200 crore in the current state Budget.”

Issuing a stern warning against individuals allegedly involved in the distribution of forged Scheduled Tribe certificates, the Chief Minister said: “Many gained benefits out of this unholy nexus. None — neither those who facilitated it nor those who procured such fake certificates — will be spared and will surely be prosecuted. The investigation into this is in progress now.”

Sharpening his attack on TMC over the President Droupadi Murmu incident, he further pointed out: “TMC had insulted President Murmu. They did not give funds for tribal development.”

Adhikari also announced that the state has been included in the Centre’s ‘Dharti Aba Janajati Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan’, a development programme for improving infrastructure, health, education and livelihood opportunities in remote tribal areas.

“Every tribal household and village will be taken to the height of development,” the Chief Minister said, adding that avenues for income generation and livelihood improvement will be ensured.