Kolkata, 26 May (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday made several major announcements after an administrative coordination meeting held in Kalyani. Cabinet ministers and administrative officials from Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts were present at the meeting.

The Chief Minister said the process of transforming the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme into the Annapurna Bhandar scheme would be completed soon. He announced that application forms for the Annapurna scheme would be released from Nabanna on Wednesday. The forms will be available in both online and offline modes, and beneficiaries will have to fill them out to avail themselves of the benefits.

According to the Chief Minister, the sooner the enrolment process is completed, the faster beneficiaries will start receiving assistance. He clarified that beneficiaries would continue to receive benefits under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme until the Annapurna Bhandar scheme becomes fully operational. The process for Annapurna Bhandar will begin from Wednesday itself. He also stated that only Indian citizens would be eligible for the scheme.

The state government also announced a major decision regarding Maa Canteens. Fish-rice meals will now be served at Maa Canteens twice a week at a subsidised price of Rs 5. The Chief Minister said that around 400 Maa Canteens are currently operational across the state.

An important announcement was also made regarding the health sector. Suvendu Adhikari said the AYUSH department would be separated from the Health Department and function independently. He further stated that the process of converting the Swasthya Sathi scheme into the Ayushman Bharat scheme has already begun. Until the transition process is completed, people will continue to receive benefits under the Swasthya Sathi scheme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey