As West Bengal is set for the assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently released its manifesto, promising several schemes for women, including a monthly allowance of ₹3,000. This amount is double the offer made by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
However, questions are being raised as to whether the state can afford these promises, given its current financial situation.
According to the Fiscal Health Index 2025, West Bengal faces high debt, with a low fiscal health score of 21.8. According to the Report of the Fifteenth Finance Commission for 2021-26, the state's debt is almost 41 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), indicating a severe financial crisis.
The promise of freebies is inherent to many Indian election campaigns. However, these electoral assurances often put a strain on the financial stability of the state, though they could sway voters.
West Bengal’s budget for 2026 crosses ₹4 lakh crores. According to NFPRC research, 18.4 per cent of this revenue expenditure is estimated for interest payments, and 51 per cent of the total revenue expenditure is pre-committed. This clearly shows that any extra expenditure can significantly strain the state budget.
The Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, one of the key highlights of West Bengal's budget for 2026, provides a monthly income of ₹1,500 and ₹1,700 to 2.21 crore women from the general and reserved categories, respectively. This is a revised sum for the new budget, increased from the ₹1,200 initially provided. The scheme alone accounts for ₹26,700 crores of the revenue expenditure.
Whioe the TMC manifesto promises to continue the scheme, the BJP manifesto has surpassed the ruling party's offer and proposed providing ₹3,000 to all women in West Bengal. If this proposal is implemented and 2.21 crore women receive the allowance, the annual cost of the scheme would rise to nearly ₹80,000 crore, adding an unallocated figure of approximately ₹52,000 crore to the state budget.
The cost for the scheme alone will be 20 per cent of the total state budget. This will further encumber the state, requiring more borrowing, thereby increasing debt.
