West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday stopped his convoy on Jessore Road in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas, after a 68-year-old woman stepped forward from a crowd to flag down his car and appeal for her long-pending old age allowance. The Chief Minister assured her of assistance under the Baddhokhya Bhata old age pension scheme and directed a party official to collect her documents immediately.

How the Encounter Unfolded

Swapna Das, a resident of ward number eight in Madhyamgram Municipality's Srinagar area, had positioned herself near the exit of the venue where Adhikari had attended a programme. Security personnel did not permit her entry as she lacked an invitation. As the convoy began to move, she pushed through the crowd, calling out, 'Baba darao, Baba darao' — urging the vehicle to stop.

The Chief Minister heard her plea and halted the car. When the window was rolled down, he addressed her as 'Maa' and invited her to speak. Das told him she had not been receiving money under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme. Adhikari clarified that she was eligible not under Annapurna Yojana but under the Baddhokhya Bhata old age pension scheme, and assured her he would make the necessary arrangements.

The Chief Minister's Directive

Adhikari then turned to Rajib Poddar, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Barasat Organisational District President, who was present nearby, and instructed him to collect all documents related to the Baddhokhya Bhata from Das and forward them to his office. In an emotional response, Das placed her hand on the Chief Minister's head and blessed him, saying, 'I don't get money, I get you, Baba, my heart is filled.'

The Hardship Behind the Appeal

According to reports, Das lives alone with her 31-year-old son, Shubhajit Das, who holds a postgraduate degree but remains unemployed. Shubhajit is reportedly seriously ill and bedridden. Das's husband left the family 12 years ago, and the two survive on financial support from a relative. She had applied multiple times to the Madhyamgram Municipality for the old age allowance but received no response, according to reports.

What Das Said After the Meeting

Speaking to reporters following the encounter, Das said, 'I told the Chief Minister about the old age allowance. He assured me that he would make arrangements. I was able to bless him. I am overwhelmed by that. I hope the Chief Minister will do better.' She expressed hope that the assurance would translate into tangible relief for her family.

The incident underscores the persistent gap between welfare scheme registration and actual disbursement at the ground level — a recurring concern in West Bengal's social security delivery. Whether the Chief Minister's personal intervention leads to a swift resolution will be closely watched.