Bengal govt rolls out Annapurna Bhandar benefits from June 1​

Kolkata, May 11 Money under the state government’s ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme will start flowing into women’s bank accounts from June 1, a state government official said on Monday.​

During the Assembly election campaign, PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah repeatedly promised to implement the Annapurna Bhandar social welfare scheme for women in the state.​

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari began fulfilling those promises on the first working day of the new government, Monday.​

The first Cabinet meeting was held at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Monday.​

After the meeting, the state government announced the launch date of ‘Annapurna Bhandar’.​

It was also announced that women would not have to pay any fare while travelling on government buses from June 1.​

Before the 2021 state Assembly elections, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had promised to provide the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme for women.​

She launched the project after winning the 2021 election.​

The project initially started with Rs 500 per month per woman.​

Thereafter, the amount was increased incrementally.​

In the last budget of the previous state government, the amount under Lakshmir Bhandar was increased to Rs 1,500 per month for each woman in the general category.​

For Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women, Rs 1,700 per month was provided.​

However, before the 2026 Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party used the same scheme introduced by Mamata Banerjee to defeat her government.​

The Bharatiya Janata Party stated in its manifesto that it would provide financial assistance of Rs 3,000 per month to empower women.​

During the election campaign, PM Modi and Amit Shah spoke about Annapurna Bhandar at almost every public meeting.​

To attract women voters, they also promised that women would be able to travel on government buses free of cost.​

On Monday, the state government announced that the promise would be fulfilled.​

From June 1, women will be able to travel on government buses free of cost.​

It is worth noting that the former Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi first introduced this facility.​

The government has changed in Delhi. However, the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party government has continued the facility introduced by Kejriwal.​

According to administration sources, those who earlier received benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar will get Rs 3,000 per month under Annapurna Bhandar.​

For now, there is no need to apply afresh for Annapurna Bhandar.​

If any information or documents are required in the future, the government will inform beneficiaries accordingly.​

--IANS

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