Bengal's Annapurna Bhandar scheme to credit ₹3,000 monthly from June 1
Synopsis
West Bengal's new BJP government wasted no time — at its very first Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed that the Annapurna Bhandar scheme will credit ₹3,000 monthly into women's accounts from 1 June, doubling what Mamata Banerjee's Lakshmir Bhandar paid. Free government bus travel for women kicks in the same day.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal's Annapurna Bhandar scheme will begin crediting ₹3,000 per month into women's bank accounts from 1 June .
The decision was taken at the first Cabinet meeting of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari 's government at Nabanna on 11 May .
Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically enrolled — no fresh application required.
Women will also receive free travel on government buses from 1 June .
The previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme paid ₹1,500/month (general category) and ₹1,700/month (SC/ST women).
The BJP had promised ₹3,000/month in its election manifesto, making this a direct fulfilment of a key campaign pledge.
West Bengal's new state government announced on Monday, 11 May that funds under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme will begin flowing directly into women's bank accounts from 1 June, according to a senior state official. The decision was formalised at the first Cabinet meeting of the new government, held at the state secretariat Nabanna in Kolkata.
Key Decisions from the First Cabinet Meeting
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari convened the inaugural Cabinet session on the first working day of the new government, signalling an intent to move swiftly on pre-election commitments. Alongside the Annapurna Bhandar rollout, the Cabinet announced that women will be able to travel on all government buses free of cost from 1 June — another promise made during the campaign trail.
According to administration sources, existing beneficiaries of the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be automatically enrolled under Annapurna Bhandar. No fresh application is required at this stage. The government has indicated it will notify beneficiaries if any additional documents are needed in the future.
What Beneficiaries Will Receive
Women who were already receiving benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar will now receive ₹3,000 per month under Annapurna Bhandar — doubling the previous rate for general category women. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had committed to this figure in its election manifesto, framing it as a significant enhancement of women's financial empowerment.
Under the outgoing Trinamool Congress government led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme had been providing ₹1,500 per month to women in the general category and ₹1,700 per month to women from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities at the time of the last state budget.
The Political Journey of Women's Welfare Schemes in Bengal
The Annapurna Bhandar scheme has its roots in a direct political counter-narrative. Mamata Banerjee had introduced Lakshmir Bhandar ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, starting at ₹500 per month per woman before incrementally raising it. The scheme proved electorally potent, helping the Trinamool Congress government secure a strong mandate that year.
Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the BJP adopted a similar strategy — promising a higher monthly payout under a new name. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah referenced Annapurna Bhandar at nearly every public rally in the state, also pledging free bus travel for women. The BJP's victory has now set the stage for both promises to be implemented simultaneously.
Free Bus Travel: A Precedent from Delhi
The free bus travel announcement mirrors a policy first introduced by the former Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi. Notably, even after the BJP came to power in Delhi, it retained the free bus travel facility for women — a detail that underscores the cross-party political appeal of such welfare measures.
What Happens Next
With the 1 June launch date confirmed, the state administration is expected to operationalise the transfer mechanism for existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries. The government has assured that the transition will be seamless, with no disruption to those already in the system. All eyes will now be on whether the ₹3,000 monthly credit reaches accounts on schedule — a key early test for the Adhikari administration.
Point of View
It simply outbid it. The doubling of the monthly payout to ₹3,000 and the addition of free bus travel are politically calibrated moves that follow the Delhi BJP's own playbook of retaining Kejriwal-era women's schemes after winning power. The real question is fiscal: Bengal's finances are already under strain, and a near-doubling of the welfare outlay for this scheme — at scale — will require credible budgetary accommodation. Whether the Adhikari government can sustain the promise beyond the honeymoon period is the accountability test that mainstream coverage is largely deferring.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Annapurna Bhandar scheme in West Bengal?
Annapurna Bhandar is a women's financial assistance scheme announced by the new BJP-led West Bengal government, which will provide ₹3,000 per month directly into women's bank accounts starting 1 June. It replaces the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme introduced by the Trinamool Congress government.
Who is eligible for Annapurna Bhandar and do beneficiaries need to apply?
Women who were already receiving benefits under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be automatically enrolled under Annapurna Bhandar — no fresh application is needed at this stage. The government will notify beneficiaries if any additional documents are required later.
How does Annapurna Bhandar differ from Lakshmir Bhandar?
Lakshmir Bhandar provided ₹1,500 per month to general category women and ₹1,700 to SC/ST women under the previous Trinamool Congress government. Annapurna Bhandar doubles the general category payout to ₹3,000 per month, as promised in the BJP's 2026 election manifesto.
What other benefits were announced alongside Annapurna Bhandar?
The West Bengal Cabinet also announced free travel for women on all government buses from 1 June — a promise made during the election campaign by PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. A similar scheme has been in place in Delhi since the Kejriwal era.
When did the BJP promise Annapurna Bhandar and why?
The BJP included Annapurna Bhandar in its manifesto ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, promising ₹3,000 per month to women. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted the scheme at nearly every public rally, using it as a direct counter to the TMC's Lakshmir Bhandar.
