West Bengal government announces Rs 1 lakh Durga Puja grant, urges well-funded committees to consider foregoing aid

PTI, September 7, 2026, Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Monday announced a Rs 1 lakh grant for Durga Puja committees this year, Rs 10,000 less than last year's assistance, while Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari urged large-budget pujas to voluntarily forego the aid.

The government also announced a 100 per cent waiver of electricity charges for Puja committees across the state and said they would not have to pay fees for obtaining fire safety clearances.

Announcing the decisions after a meeting with representatives of Durga Puja committees at Milan Mela ground here, Adhikari said the government would provide the grant to committees that need financial assistance.

"I do not want to misuse the powers of the Chief Minister. I would request those who are capable (of organising pujas without government assistance) not to take the financial aid. Those who cannot organise the puja without this money will be given Rs 1 lakh by the government," he said.

The Chief Minister also left it to the committees to decide whether they wanted to accept the grant.

"Those who need the grant can apply locally, while those who do not need it can choose not to take it. I leave the matter to the puja committees," he said.

Adhikari took a swipe at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while referring to the gradual increase in the government grant, which was initially fixed at Rs 25,000.

"What the former Chief Minister was doing was not right. It started at Rs 25,000 and reached Rs 1.10 lakh. It did not help in elections. Many have become dependent on it," he said.