West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, 14 August officially launched the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme in the state, simultaneously announcing that the monthly payment under the scheme will be doubled to ₹2,000 from the earlier ₹1,000 disbursed under the Kanyashree Prakalpa — a flagship girl-child welfare programme introduced by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.

Key Scheme Announcements

The launch marks a significant policy reset for the new state administration, which has folded the Centre's Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative into West Bengal's existing girl-child welfare architecture while raising the financial benefit. The doubling of the payment is positioned as a direct enhancement for existing Kanyashree beneficiaries, signalling continuity of coverage even as the branding shifts to the central scheme.

Alongside the girl-child initiative, Adhikari also unveiled a Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme to cover residents who fall outside the eligibility criteria of the Ayushman Bharat programme. 'Ayushman Diwas' will be observed in West Bengal on 16 August — the day after Independence Day — when distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards to beneficiaries will formally begin.

What the Health Scheme Covers

State Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee said each family enrolled under the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme will receive free treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh per year, with no fee charged for the insurance card itself. 'This benefit will be provided regardless of the size of the family,' Mukherjee said.

According to Mukherjee, 80 lakh families in West Bengal will be covered under the state's own health insurance scheme, while a total of 3.4 crore people are set to receive Ayushman Bharat services from 16 August onwards. Together, the two programmes are intended to achieve near-universal health coverage across the state.

Government's Stated Commitment

Chief Minister Adhikari underscored the administration's intent on health access, stating: 'Ayushman Diwas is going to be celebrated in the state on August 16, the day after Independence Day. Distribution of Ayushman Bharat scheme cards to beneficiaries will start from that day. Those not covered by Ayushman Bharat will receive equal benefits under the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme.'

He added that the new government's aim is to ensure that no resident dies due to lack of treatment arising from financial constraints. 'Our government is committed to this,' Adhikari said.

Political and Policy Context

The announcements carry clear political weight. Kanyashree Prakalpa was one of the most recognised welfare programmes of the Banerjee government, having won international recognition. By retaining the payment structure while doubling the amount and rebranding it under the central Beti Bachao Beti Padhao framework, the Adhikari administration is signalling alignment with New Delhi while claiming credit for improving on its predecessor's record. The health insurance announcement similarly positions the new government as broadening welfare coverage beyond what the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme reaches. How effectively both programmes are implemented and whether the promised benefits reach intended beneficiaries will be closely watched in the months ahead.