The West Bengal government is implementing benefits for 28 million women under the Annapurna Yojana

West Bengal Government Minister Agnimitra Paul along with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvenda Adhikari handing over a check to a beneficiary under Annapurna Yojana 2026 (or Annapurna Bhandar Scheme) at Nabanna (State Secretariat) in Howrah on Wednesday. | Photo credit: ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (June 4, 2026) launched the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, which provides ₹3,000 per month to women in the state.

Five recipients were handed over checks by the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat to mark the introduction of the cash transfer scheme. Mr. Adhikari said that 28,25,769 beneficiaries have been approved under the scheme to receive ₹ 3000 per month under the Annapurna Yojana.

The Chief Minister said that the registration process for the scheme would continue for the next three months and the state government would help the beneficiaries with registration.

Recipients were given 90 days to register for the program. Women between the ages of 25 and 60 will be entitled to this benefit. Doubling the Lakshmir Bhandar incentive from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 under Annapurna Bhandar was a poll promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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Women and Child Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said women who were beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will have to register for the Annapurna Yojana. The minister said fresh applications are being considered due to corruption in the implementation of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme launched by the earlier regime. The number of beneficiaries under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme was 2.2 billion.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal said the beneficiaries of the Annapurna Yojana will be made public and people will be given an opportunity to raise objections in case undeserving beneficiaries are the beneficiaries.

The West Bengal government has come up with an 11-page application form for registration under the Annapurna Yojana, which has come under fire.

Published – 04 Jun 2026 02:00 IST