West Bengal government has announced the launch of the Annapurna Yojana (Img: Internet)
Kolkata: The West Bengal government has announced the launch of the Annapurna Yojana, a new financial assistance scheme aimed at providing monthly support to eligible women across the state.
Under the scheme, women beneficiaries will receive Rs 3,000 every month directly in their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. The scheme is scheduled to come into effect from June 1, 2026.
According to officials, the initiative is intended to strengthen women’s financial independence and help families manage rising household expenses.
As per the government notification, women between the ages of 25 and 60 will be eligible to apply for the scheme. However, women employed in government jobs, pensioners and income tax payers will not qualify for benefits under Annapurna Yojana.
West Bengal govt to launch Annapurna Yojana from June 1. Eligible women aged 25–60 will receive Rs 3,000 monthly through DBT. Most Lakshmi Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically enrolled under the new welfare scheme.#AnnapurnaYojana #WestBengal #WomenEmpowerment #DBT… pic.twitter.com/MiwUWXOBeN
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) May 28, 2026
Officials said beneficiaries must have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to receive the monthly assistance amount.
The state government clarified that most women currently receiving benefits under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme would automatically be shifted to the Annapurna Yojana database.
At the same time, authorities said names found marked as deceased, relocated or absent in voter records may be removed from the beneficiary list after verification. Women whose applications or records are under investigation will continue receiving assistance until a final decision is taken.
The government also announced that new applicants would be able to apply online from June 1 through the official Annapurna Yojana portal.
Applications submitted online will be verified by local authorities before approval. In rural areas, the Block Development Officer (BDO) will oversee verification, while in urban areas the process will be handled by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
After district-level approval, eligible women will start receiving monthly payments directly into their bank accounts.
Officials and policy experts believe the scheme could provide relief to women facing increasing living costs. The monthly assistance is expected to support household expenses, education costs and other day-to-day needs while improving women’s financial participation within families.
