August 14, 2026|CoreSignal
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!More Women to Get Annapurna Bhandar Benefits: CM Suvendu Adhikari
The Bengal government has relaxed certain eligibility criteria under the Annapurna Yojana, paving the way for more women to get Annapurna scheme’s monthly benefit of ₹3,000. The decision comes after complaints that several eligible women were excluded from the scheme, while some ineligible beneficiaries were included. The government has relaxed criteria related to the number of rooms in a house and land ownership, particularly in rural areas. More than 1.70 crore applications had reportedly been received by July 31. The government is conducting a door-to-door verification process to identify genuine beneficiaries. The revised beneficiary list is expected to be announced on August 17, when the August payment will also be transferred. From September, the government plans to make payments by the second week of every month. A grievance-redressal portal will also be introduced for applicants who believe they have been wrongly excluded.?
The BJP-led Bengal government has relaxed certain eligibility criteria for the Annapurna Yojana, paving the way for more women to receive the scheme’s monthly benefit of ₹3,000. The decision comes amid growing resentment over the exclusion of several beneficiaries of the previous government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.
As per a report published by The Telegraph on August 13, the Bengal government has decided to relax certain eligibility criteria for the Annapurna Yojana, allowing more women to qualify for the scheme.
The move is expected to increase the state government’s expenditure by around ₹14,000 crore during the ongoing financial year. The government had initially allocated ₹36,000 crore for the scheme.
“We had allotted ₹36,000 crore in the state budget to run the Annapurna Yojana for eight months of the ongoing financial year. But now it appears that the expenditure could rise to ₹48,000 crore to ₹50,000 crore as the benefit is extended to more women. The state government is ready to shoulder the additional expenditure,” Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said at Nabanna on Wednesday.
Annapurna Bhandar Eligibility Criteria Relaxed
Suvendu said that soon after coming to power, the state government transferred ₹3,000 to the bank accounts of 28 lakh beneficiaries in June. In July, the benefit was transferred to 1.19 crore women.
However, the government subsequently received complaints that several eligible women had been left out, while some ineligible beneficiaries had received the benefit. In response, the government launched a door-to-door verification exercise.
“This is why a thorough door-to-door survey is being conducted. The benefit for August would be transferred on August 17, and this time more women would receive it,” Suvendu said.
Admitting that there had been an error rate of around 20 per cent in the list of beneficiaries who received payments in July, Suvendu announced that the government had relaxed certain eligibility criteria.
Under the revised criteria, women living in houses with more than three rooms in rural areas will now be eligible for the benefit. Similarly, women belonging to families owning more than 50 decimals of land in rural and civic areas, excluding municipal corporation areas, will also be eligible.
“In all likelihood, those who live in municipal corporation areas won’t need the benefit,” Suvendu said.
Over 1.70 Crore Applications Received
According to government officials, more than 1.70 crore applications had been received for the Annapurna Yojana by July 31.
“The exact number of beneficiaries would be declared on August 17. But I think this time everyone will be happy,” the chief minister said.
Government sources said the BJP had campaigned before the elections on the promise that all beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar would be brought under the new scheme, which provides ₹3,000 a month to women aged between 25 and 60.
However, after assuming office, the new government introduced a 12-page application form and imposed additional eligibility criteria for prospective beneficiaries.
“Apart from the number of rooms in houses and the 50-decimal land criterion, the new government said women earning more than ₹10,000 per month would be excluded from the scheme,” a government source said.
“But this led to severe resentment, particularly in rural areas. Now, the government has relaxed two criteria for women in rural areas to address the resentment,” the source added.
When Will Annapurna Yojana Benefits Be Paid?
The chief minister said beneficiaries would receive the monthly payment during the second week of every month from September onwards.
“In August, it was delayed by a few days as the government had to conduct the survey to identify genuine beneficiaries after complaints emerged. But from next month, the benefits would reach bank accounts by the second week. The previous government did not transfer the money regularly,” Suvendu said.
The August benefit is scheduled to be transferred on August 17, when the revised beneficiary list is also expected to be announced.
Lakshmir Bhandar Beneficiaries Under Verification
According to government sources, the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme had nearly 2.21 crore beneficiaries. However, the BJP government reportedly identified at least 30 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, including several men.
“The previous government did not verify the beneficiaries properly. But the new government is implementing the scheme after thorough verification. This is the reason why the number of beneficiaries would come down to around 1.6 crore,” a source said.
The government is conducting a door-to-door verification exercise to identify genuine beneficiaries and correct errors in the existing list.
Grievance Portal for Excluded Beneficiaries
Suvendu also announced that the government would launch a grievance-redressal portal for Annapurna Yojana beneficiaries.
“Those who feel they have been deprived can apply through the portal. The applications will be verified at the BDO level. If the applicants are found eligible, they will be included in the list of beneficiaries,” Suvendu said.
Political observers said the new government, facing growing resentment among women, had been forced to reconsider its earlier decision to impose stricter eligibility criteria for the scheme.
“No party that came to power by ousting a party that ruled for 15 years wants to become unpopular within such a short period,” a political observer said.
