Annapurna Bhandar to roll out from June

Kolkata: Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari's announcement on Monday, confirming that the existing social welfare schemes would continue, alleviated anxiety among more than 2 crore Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries, who were worried whether the monthly financial aid would still be credited to their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts even after the govt change in Bengal. Adhikari also announced that Annapurna Bhandar, another welfare scheme, under which Rs 3,000 would be paid to women every month, would be rolled out from June.After the new govt came into office, many women, who would receive the Lakshmir Bhandar benefit, started asking about the process of enlisting for Annapurna Bhandar as the BJP, in its manifesto during the election campaign, had promised to pay women Rs 3,000 every month. The beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar, a scheme started by the Trinamool govt for women aged between 25 and 60 years in 2021, pointed out they banked on the monthly aid to buy medicines or pay for children's tuition. "But the money has not yet been credited to my account this month. I was worried if the scheme introduced by the earlier govt would now be discontinued," said Jharna Das, a resident of Sonarpur. "Today, the CM's announcement was a relief. I use the Rs 1,500 to pay for my grandson's tuition." A couple of months before the election, the Lakshmir Bhandar sum was raised by Rs 500, making it Rs 1,700 a month for SC/ST women and Rs 1,500 per month for women of other categories. In early 2026, around 20.6 lakh beneficiaries enrolled for Lakshmir Bhandar, more than one lakh of them being from Kolkata."It's good the new govt will not scrap the scheme. Until the CM's announcement, I was worried as the aid helps me meet some necessary expenses," said Basanti Sarkar, a resident of Taltala.Mangala Rao, a Chringrighata resident, said, "I am yet to get the Lakshmir Bhandar money this month and neither has any of my neighbours. I feared it would be stopped after the govt change. The CM has shown me hope as beneficiaries will not be deprived of the benefit they have been receiving for five years."Meera Naskar, another beneficiary, added, "This time, things are different as the govt that started the welfare scheme is no longer in office. It's a big relief for my family that the scheme will be continued. I depend on this money to buy medicines."