West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari: 30 lakh illegal beneficiaries got Lakshmir Bhandar funds
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that around 30 lakh ineligible individuals — including males and those struck off the voters' list — were drawing benefits under the Mamata Banerjee government's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The state has now launched Annapurna Yojana, offering ₹3,000 monthly, with a three-month enrolment window and stricter eligibility tied to citizenship status.
Key Takeaways
CM Suvendu Adhikari alleged that around 30 lakh illegal beneficiaries , including males, received funds under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.
The Annapurna Yojana portal was launched on 27 May 2025 as a replacement, offering an enhanced monthly allowance of ₹3,000 .
Legal Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will continue receiving payments until they are migrated to the new scheme.
Enrolment runs for three months and is available both online and offline; state employees will assist at doorsteps.
CAA applicants are eligible; income-tax payers, government employees, and non-Indians are excluded.
Weekly enrolment updates will be provided by minister Agnimitra Paul .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, 27 May alleged that around 30 lakh illegal beneficiaries — including males and individuals whose names have been permanently removed from the voters' list — had been drawing monthly allowances under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme introduced by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government. The disclosure came as Adhikari formally launched the enrolment portal for Annapurna Yojana, the scheme set to replace Lakshmir Bhandar with an enhanced monthly allowance of ₹3,000.
Key Allegations Against Lakshmir Bhandar
Adhikari claimed that the beneficiary list under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme had not been adequately verified, leading to widespread irregularities. “Initially, we thought that the list of recipients under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme was verified. However, we have received several complaints regarding that,” he said. According to him, approximately 30 lakh individuals whose names have been permanently removed from the voters' list and who have not applied to the relevant tribunal are still drawing scheme benefits — a situation he described as untenable.
Annapurna Yojana: What Changes
The Annapurna Yojana portal was officially opened for enrolment on Wednesday. The Chief Minister stated that all legal beneficiaries currently enrolled under Lakshmir Bhandar would continue receiving benefits under the old scheme until they are transitioned to the new one. Enrolment can be completed both online and offline, and the government plans to deploy state employees to visit beneficiaries at their doorsteps to assist with form-filling. “There is no need to hurry. The enrolment process will continue for three months,” Adhikari said.
Eligibility Criteria Under the New Scheme
Adhikari was explicit about who would be excluded from the Annapurna Yojana. “Only nationalist Indian women will get this money. Non-Indians, those who pay income tax, or those working in a government or government-aided organisation will not receive money under the Annapurna Yojana scheme,” he stated. He added that individuals who have applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be eligible, and those whose names have been removed from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) but who have applied to the tribunal will be retained in the list as an interim exception.
Oversight and Weekly Updates
Adhikari announced that the progress of enrolments would be communicated to the public every week through the media by Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal Minister in charge of the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare departments. This weekly reporting mechanism is intended to ensure transparency and public accountability during the three-month enrolment window. This comes amid broader scrutiny of welfare delivery mechanisms across Indian states, where beneficiary verification has repeatedly emerged as a governance challenge.
Political Context
The Lakshmir Bhandar scheme was a flagship welfare initiative of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led government under former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, providing monthly financial support to women. The Adhikari government's decision to replace it with Annapurna Yojana — and to publicly allege large-scale misuse — carries significant political weight ahead of future electoral cycles in West Bengal. Critics may question whether the 30 lakh figure has been independently verified, and opposition voices are likely to contest the characterisation of beneficiaries as 'illegal.'
Point of View
As of this report, been independently audited — and that distinction matters. Welfare list irregularities are a genuine governance problem across Indian states, but the framing here — linking alleged fraud to illegal immigrants and CAA citizenship — moves the story into contested political territory. The Adhikari government is simultaneously dismantling a TMC flagship scheme and rebranding it, which is as much an electoral manoeuvre as an administrative reform. The real test will be whether the Annapurna Yojana's beneficiary verification is rigorous and transparent, or whether the 30 lakh exclusions disproportionately affect legitimate but marginalised claimants who lack documentation.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Annapurna Yojana scheme in West Bengal?
Annapurna Yojana is a new welfare scheme launched by the West Bengal government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to replace the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. It provides an enhanced monthly allowance of ₹3,000 to eligible women, with enrolment open for three months from 27 May 2025.
Why did CM Suvendu Adhikari allege irregularities in the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme?
Adhikari claimed that around 30 lakh individuals — including males and those permanently removed from the voters' list — were receiving benefits under the scheme despite being ineligible. He cited complaints received by the government and said the new Annapurna Yojana enrolment process would help remove such names.
Who is eligible for the Annapurna Yojana?
Only Indian women who do not pay income tax and are not employed in government or government-aided organisations are eligible. CAA applicants are also included. Non-Indians and those struck off electoral rolls without tribunal appeals are excluded.
How can beneficiaries enrol for the Annapurna Yojana?
Enrolment is available both online through the official portal and offline. State government employees will also visit beneficiaries at their homes to assist with form-filling. The enrolment window is open for three months.
What happens to current Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries during the transition?
Legal beneficiaries currently enrolled under Lakshmir Bhandar will continue receiving their existing monthly payments until they are formally migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. No benefits will be interrupted for verified, eligible recipients during the transition period.
