Kolkata, 20 May (H.S.) : The West Bengal government has announced that the ‘Annapurna Yojana’ will be implemented from June 1, under which eligible women will receive Rs 3,000 per month directly into their bank accounts, according to a statement issued by the Finance Department on Tuesday night.

The scheme, which has been cleared in principle by the Cabinet under the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, is being positioned as a major financial support initiative for women in the state. Officials said detailed guidelines on application procedures, fund transfer mechanisms and eligibility criteria have been outlined in the official notification.

As per the statement, beneficiaries currently receiving assistance under the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme will be automatically migrated to the ‘Annapurna Yojana’ system, with funds directly credited to their bank accounts. Women who are not part of the existing scheme will also be eligible to apply once the portal becomes operational from June 1. Applicants must be between 25 and 60 years of age.

The government has stated that a dedicated online portal will be opened for applications, where eligible women can submit their forms. Verification of applications will be conducted at multiple levels. In rural areas, Block Development Officers (BDOs) will carry out scrutiny, while Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will verify cases in urban areas. In Kolkata, municipal officials will conduct verification, followed by approval from the Municipal Commissioner before final uploading of data on the portal.

Authorities have also clarified that all applications will undergo further investigation before final approval, after which beneficiaries will begin receiving monthly financial assistance directly in their bank accounts.

Eligibility Restrictions Announced

The government has specified that certain categories will not be eligible for benefits under the scheme. These include permanent employees of the Central or State government, pensioners, teaching and non-teaching staff in government-aided institutions, and panchayat employees. Income tax payers will also be excluded.

Additionally, individuals marked as deceased, missing, or whose citizenship status is under question under the 2026 SIR framework will not receive benefits until their cases are resolved by the tribunal.

The announcement comes amid heightened political focus on women-centric welfare schemes in the state, with Annapurna Yojana being projected as a continuation and expansion of earlier financial assistance programmes targeting women’s empowerment.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh