The West Bengal government's Seva Setu Abhiyan camps drew more than 10 lakh registrations on their very first day, 2 October 2025, as thousands of residents queued up across the state to access welfare schemes under a single-window system launched on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Official state data pegged the total at 10,68,033 registrations by 8 pm on the opening day alone.

Registration Numbers at a Glance

Of the 10,68,033 people who enrolled on Day 1, 5,47,965 were male applicants, 5,17,546 were female applicants, and 2,522 belonged to other genders. The highest footfall was reported from Burdwan, Malda, Cooch Behar, and Jhargram districts, according to state government data.

How the Campaign Is Structured

The state government has set a target of running 3,251 Seva Setu Abhiyan camps over the three-day programme. On the first day alone, 1,081 camps were held across West Bengal. The remaining 2,170 camps are scheduled over Saturday and Sunday. In Kolkata, one camp has been arranged for every two adjacent wards, and a dedicated helpline has been opened to guide residents to their nearest camp.

What the Camps Offer

A senior state government official described the initiative as a single-window system designed to eliminate repeated visits to multiple offices. 'The state government has taken this initiative to bring various people-oriented schemes of the Central and State governments to the doorsteps of the people. Basically, this camp has been organised in every district of the state to provide benefits of all the schemes under one umbrella, instant enrolment, verification of documents and listening to complaints of people,' the official said.

Key schemes covered at the camps include Annapurna Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Shiksha Shree, Joy Johar, PM Kisan Credit Card, and PM Kisan Svanidhi. New application forms for widow allowance, old age allowance, and disability allowance are also being distributed. Beneficiaries can additionally check the status of their Annapurna Yojana enrolment and Ayushman Card at the camps.

Context and Significance

The launch of the Seva Setu Abhiyan on Gandhi Jayanti carries symbolic weight — the camps are framed as grassroots outreach in the spirit of public service. This comes amid a broader push by state governments across India to consolidate welfare delivery and reduce bureaucratic friction for beneficiaries. The scale of Day 1 turnout — over ten lakh in a single day — suggests strong pent-up demand for scheme access, particularly in districts such as Malda and Cooch Behar that have historically reported lower welfare penetration. The state government expects comparable participation on the remaining two days of the campaign.