West Bengal Introduces Annapurna Bhandar Scheme With Direct ₹3,000 Monthly Transfers

The West Bengal government has launched the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, a new welfare initiative aimed at providing monthly financial assistance to eligible women across the state. The scheme came into effect on June 1 and is designed to support household expenses, healthcare needs, and daily living costs through direct cash transfers. Authorities say the benefit will be credited through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

Under the programme, eligible women will receive ₹3,000 per month as financial assistance. The scheme is targeted at homemakers, widows, divorced women, and unemployed women who meet the eligibility criteria set by the state government. Officials have stated that the initiative aims to strengthen financial independence among women and reduce economic vulnerability at the household level.

The scheme replaces the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar programme and was approved by the West Bengal Cabinet on May 18. According to government officials, beneficiaries who were already receiving support under the previous scheme will be automatically migrated to the new system. The administration has described the transition as a continuation and expansion of existing welfare support for women in the state.

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Eligibility conditions include being an Indian citizen, a permanent resident of West Bengal, and a registered voter in the state. Applicants must be between 25 and 60 years of age and should not be permanent government employees, pension recipients, or income taxpayers. An Aadhaar-linked bank account is mandatory to receive payments, ensuring direct and transparent transfer of funds to beneficiaries.

The government has also opened fresh registrations through its official online portal starting June 1. Applicants can submit their details and required documents through an OTP-based verification system. For those without digital access, offline applications are being accepted at Block Development Offices (BDOs), municipalities, and government-run enrolment camps across the state, where officials are assisting with the registration process.

The scheme is being positioned as a major expansion of women-centric welfare support in West Bengal, doubling the monthly assistance amount compared to the previous programme. Authorities have stated that the increased financial aid is intended to help women manage rising living costs and improve economic stability at the household level.

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