The much-awaited forms for the women's welfare scheme ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ were launched by the new BJP government in West Bengal on Wednesday.
The social welfare scheme promises Rs 3000 for women from low-income households who are not in the income tax bracket. The money will be handed out via the direct bank transfer (DBT) method.
“We are launching forms (for the Annapurna Bhandar scheme) under the Women and Child Welfare department headed by Agnimitra Paul,” said Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
#WATCH | Howrah, West Bengal: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari says, “In BJP's Sankalp Patra (manifesto) we had pledged that, immediately upon forming the government, we would launch the Annapurna Scheme. Under this initiative, eligible beneficiaries, specifically women, would… pic.twitter.com/lQGDBieZiQ
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2026
In the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, men were found to be beneficiaries of the scheme, which is against the rule.
“Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be verified, but there are allegations that names have gone from the voter list and those who have not applied under the tribunal (SIR) or for CAA are still getting Lakshmir Bhandar,” noted Adhikari.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal were also present during the press briefing.
Adhikari said that the involvement of the Chief Secretary, Kolkata Municipal Corporation Commissioner, and other departments would be required for the process, which is very technical.
This includes filling up forms online and offline, verifying applicants, and transferring beneficiaries from the pervious Lakshmir Bhandar scheme to the new Annapurna Bhandar scheme. The finer eligibility details will also be under the lens.
There are 30 lakh names on the voter list who are dead, deleted or illegal voters. Hence their names will not be eligible for the scheme.
Adhikari noted that the final number of beneficiaries would drop further to about 2 crore beneficiaries. The process of Ayushman Bharat registration and enrollment is starting, and from July 1, people will get their cards.
There will be online and offline registration forms, with a 90-day window from June 1 for this programme online, offline at Block Development Offices, and at municipal corporations.
Panchayat officials will go door-to-door in a 30-day drive to explain and help people fill up forms to avail the scheme.
Adhikari reiterated that there was no hurry and that there was enough time for people to fill up forms.
“We want to help these families with these schemes,” said the CM. Periodic updates in enrollments will be given by Paul.
This is part of the BJP manifesto that the new government is implementing, taking a leaf from the former Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Lakshmir Bhandar scheme launched before the 2021 Assembly elections, which was the trump card for the erstwhile Mamata Banerjee government.
The BJP government, however, doubled the dole from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000, which caught the attention of many voters.
