The West Bengal government has proposed a new allowance of ₹1,500 per month for unemployed residents aged 21 to 40. The scheme, called Banglar Yuva Sathi, will provide payments until the beneficiary finds a job or for up to 5 years, whichever comes first.
The programme is scheduled to begin from 15 August, subject to the outcome of the Assembly election. An allocation of ₹15,000 crore has been set aside for the scheme in the 2026-27 financial year.
The announcement was made while presenting the state’s interim budget for 2026-27. The total outlay has been set at ₹4.06 lakh crore.
According to the budget documents, the revenue deficit is expected to narrow. It is projected at ₹21,759.34 crore for 2026-27, compared with a revised estimate of ₹41,164.05 crore in the current year.
The budget also proposes a higher monthly payment under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme. Women beneficiaries will receive an additional ₹500 per month from February 2026.
The scheme currently covers about 2.21 crore women, and the government plans to add another 20.62 lakh beneficiaries. After the revision, women in the general category will receive ₹1,500 per month, while those in reserved categories will receive ₹1,700.
Monthly allowances for ASHA workers, anganwadi workers and civic volunteers will rise by ₹1,000. The budget has allocated ₹280 crore for anganwadi workers and helpers, along with a compensation provision of ₹5 lakh for their families in the event of death.
Gig workers will be included in existing social security schemes such as Swasthyasathi. Government employees will also receive a 4% increase in dearness allowance.
Read More: Supreme Court Ruling: West Bengal Government Must Settle Employee DA Dues from 2008 to 2019!
The interim budget outlines a new allowance for unemployed youth and higher payments across several welfare programmes. The measures are planned for implementation during the 2026-27 financial year.
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Published on: Feb 6, 2026, 12:50 PM IST
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