The government in West Bengal has allocated ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana in its 2026-27 budget, aimed at reaching 1 crore beneficiaries.
This budget marked a decrease from the previous regime’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which reportedly supported 2.4 crore women.
On June 22, 2026, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced a ₹36,000 crore allocation for Annapurna Yojana as part of the state’s first full budget for the fiscal year 2026-27.
The revised programme aims to provide ₹3,000 per month to 1 crore women, contrasting sharply with the 2.4 crore beneficiaries of its predecessor, Lakshmir Bhandar.
The reduction is attributed to enhanced eligibility criteria and verification processes to improve benefit delivery and fiscal sustainability.
Pioneered in 2021 by the former government, Lakshmir Bhandar was highly popular, delivering monthly financial assistance to millions of women.
The Annapurna Yojana, though reducing its beneficiary count, retains the core objective of financial support, but under revised terms and increased assistance levels.
During the election campaign, the present government pledged to streamline welfare delivery through modifications to the scheme. Upon taking charge, they introduced stringent verification, claiming to have removed around 30 lakh unqualified beneficiaries through a thorough vetting process.
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The allocation to Annapurna Yojana forms a critical segment of the government’s welfare expenses while addressing fiscal health challenges. The budget addressed existing liabilities while ensuring continued support through efficient resource allocation.
The West Bengal government has restructured financial assistance to women through the ₹36,000 crore Annapurna Yojana, targeting 1 crore beneficiaries compared to the previous scheme that supported 2.4 crore women. This move aims at optimised welfare delivery and sustainability.
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Published on: Jun 22, 2026, 5:38 PM IST
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