West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday announced that the state government will discontinue the one-time ₹10,000 financial assistance provided to students of Classes 11 and 12 for purchasing mobile phones. The assistance was introduced under a scheme launched by the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. Adhikari said the government was instead prepared to spend more on providing students with modern infrastructure and facilities. The decision marks a change in the state government's approach to supporting students with technology.

Under the earlier scheme, eligible students in Classes 11 and 12 received a one-time payment of ₹10,000 to help them purchase mobile phones. The assistance was intended to support students with access to digital devices for their education and other academic requirements. Announcing the withdrawal of the financial assistance, Adhikari indicated that the government wanted to redirect its focus towards improving infrastructure for students. He said the state was ready to spend more money to provide modern infrastructure, suggesting that resources could instead be used to strengthen facilities available to students through educational institutions.

The decision also represents a shift from providing direct financial support to students towards investing in physical and institutional infrastructure. While the mobile phone assistance offered students financial help to acquire personal devices, the government's new emphasis is on modern facilities that can serve students through educational institutions. Details about the infrastructure initiatives and the manner in which the additional spending will be implemented were not provided in the announcement. The ₹10,000 assistance had been provided as a one-time benefit to students in Classes 11 and 12 under the scheme introduced during the previous TMC administration.

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Its discontinuation means students will no longer receive the financial support specifically intended for purchasing mobile phones. The announcement is likely to draw attention because digital devices have become increasingly important to students for accessing educational material and online resources. Adhikari's announcement comes as the state government outlines its priorities for student welfare and education infrastructure. Rather than continuing the existing mobile phone assistance, the government says it is prepared to allocate greater resources towards modern infrastructure.

The chief minister's comments, however, did not specify the exact projects, institutions or facilities that would receive the additional investment. For students and families who had expected the continuation of the ₹10,000 assistance, the announcement signals the end of a financial benefit that was introduced by the previous government. The government has instead placed emphasis on improving modern infrastructure as a broader investment in education. Further details on the proposed infrastructure spending, including its scope and implementation, will be important in assessing how the change will affect students across West Bengal.

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