West Bengal government rolls out benefits to 28 lakh women under Annapurna Yojana

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, June 4, 2026, launched the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, which provides ₹ 3000 per month to women in the State.

Checks were handed over to the five beneficiaries by the Prime Minister at the State Secretariat to mark the launch of the cash transfer scheme. Mr. Adhikari said 28,25,769 beneficiaries have been approved under the scheme and they will get ₹3000 per month under Annapurna Yojana.

The registration process for the scheme will continue for the next three months and the State government will help the beneficiaries register, the Chief Minister said.

Beneficiaries were given 90 days to enroll in the programme. Women between the ages of 25-60 can benefit from this aid. It was a poll promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to double the incentive of Lakshmir Bhandar from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 under Annapurna Bhandar.

Defense seeks ration in connection with SIR in West Bengal, SC asks petitioner to move HC

Women and Child Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said women who benefited from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme should register for the Annapurna Yojana. The minister said new applications were being considered due to corruption in the implementation of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme initiated by the previous regime. The number of beneficiaries under the Lakshmir Bhandar program was 2.2 billion.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal said Annapurna Yojana beneficiaries will be made public and people will have an opportunity to raise objections if undeserving beneficiaries receive benefits.

The West Bengal government has prepared an 11-page application form to enroll in the Annapurna Yojana, which has come under criticism.