Annapurna Yojana: What Changes For Women As West Bengal Replaces Lakshmir Bhandar

Women beneficiaries will face a big change in West Bengal with the newly announced Annapurna Yojana scheme, which will come into effect from June 1, 2026, replacing the erstwhile Laxmir Bhandar Prakalpa. The new scheme will raise financial assistance and bring in new eligibility criteria and verification procedures.

The Annapurna Bhandar scheme will provide Rs 3,000 monthly through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to eligible women directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

Higher Monthly Assistance Under New Scheme

The most noticeable change with the Annapurna Yojana is that the amount of financial assistance has been increased from Lakshmir Bhandar.

Lakshmir Bhandar, established by the previous state government in August 2021, provided monthly monetary support to women aged 25 to 60. The beneficiaries were initially given Rs 500 per month, with women from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities having a monthly stipend of Rs 1000.

The amount was revised upward over time and eventually reached around Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,700, depending on categories.

Under Annapurna Yojana, the monthly support amount has now been fixed at Rs 3,000 for eligible beneficiaries. The new state government has also introduced changes in beneficiary selection criteria.

Existing Beneficiaries To Be Migrated

According to the announced framework, women already receiving benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar will automatically be migrated to Annapurna Yojana. This means existing beneficiaries may not have to submit fresh applications immediately.

However, the government has also announced stricter screening and verification measures under the new scheme. This means some beneficiaries may still be reviewed under the revised eligibility conditions before approvals continue under Annapurna Yojana.

According to official statements, beneficiary eligibility will be checked through scrutiny and local-level enquiries before final approval is granted.

Revised Eligibility Conditions

The Annapurna Yojana has updated eligibility rules. To qualify for the scheme, applicants:

• Must be a woman resident of West Bengal

• Must be between 25 and 60 years of age

• Must not be a taxpayer

• Must not be a permanent or retired government employee

• Must not receive any regular salary or pension from state or central government institutions

• Must not be employed in teaching or non-teaching roles in government-aided institutions

The state government has stated that the revised rules are intended to ensure financial assistance reaches economically vulnerable women outside government employment structures.

Online And Offline Application Process

A dedicated portal for Annapurna Yojana is expected to become operational from June 1, 2026. New applicants will be able to apply online through the portal.

Applicants are expected to prepare documents such as an Aadhaar card, bank account details, passport-size photographs, address proof, and other identity documents ready during the application process.

The government will also organise offline application camps and local office-based submission facilities.

Verification Process

After applications are submitted, local authorities will conduct scrutiny and field-level verification. In rural areas, Block Development Officers (BDOs) will review eligible names, while Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will handle the process in urban regions.

The recommended beneficiary list will then be sent to the District Magistrate for final approval.

Lakshmir Bhandar had emerged as one of the country’s largest state-level monetary assistance schemes for women, covering more than 2.15 crore beneficiaries. With increased payouts and automatic migration of existing recipients, Annapurna Yojana is expected to continue as a large-scale welfare program in West Bengal.

FAQs

1. What is Annapurna Yojana?
   It is a women-focused welfare scheme in West Bengal offering Rs 3,000 monthly assistance through direct benefit transfer.

2. Who will get benefits under the new scheme?
   Women residents of West Bengal meeting age and income eligibility criteria will receive benefits.

3. Will existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries be included?
   Yes, existing beneficiaries will be automatically migrated to the new scheme, subject to eligibility checks.

4. How will the money be transferred?
   Funds will be directly credited to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts through DBT.