West Bengal government rolls out benefits to 28 lakh women under Annapurna Yojana

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (June 4, 2026) rolled out the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, providing ₹3000 per month to women in the State.

Five beneficiaries were given cheques by the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat to mark the rollout of the cash transfer scheme. Mr. Adhikari said that 28,25,769 beneficiaries have been approved under the scheme and will receive ₹3000 per month under Annapurna Yojana. 

The Chief Minister said that the registration process for the scheme will continue for the next three months, and the State government will help beneficiaries register.

Beneficiaries have been given 90 days to register under the scheme. Women between the ages of 25 and 60 will be eligible for this benefit. Doubling the incentive of Lakshmir Bhandar from Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 under the Annapurna Bhandar was a poll promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

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

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal said that the beneficiaries of Annapurna Yojana will be made public and people will have opportunity to file objections in any non-deserving beneficiary is receiving benefit.

The West Bengal government has come up with 11-page application form for registering under Annapurna Yojana, which has come under criticism.