West Bengal rolls out Annapurna Yojana for Women: Rs 3,000 monthly aid

New Delhi ( Raghwendra Pratap Singh) :

West Bengal government on Wednesday launched the application form for the ‘Annapurna Yojana’, a new financial assistance scheme aimed at providing eligible women in the state with monthly support of Rs 3,000.

The scheme will replace the existing Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which was introduced in 2021 under the earlier government led by Mamata Banerjee.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ application form and said the Women and Child Welfare Department, headed by Minister Agnimitra Paul, will act as the nodal authority for implementation of the scheme.

The Chief Minister said beneficiaries currently receiving assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will continue to get payments under the existing arrangement until the enrolment process for Annapurna Yojana is completed.

According to the notification issued on May 19, 2026, the applicant must be between 25 and 60 years of age to become eligible for the scheme. The notification further states that applicants should not be employed in permanent government jobs or receive a regular salary or pension from either the Union government or the West Bengal government.