The West Bengal government has finally brought some happy news for the women of the state. Next Wednesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is set to officially release the application forms for this new social security scheme from Nabanna. Along with the launch, the government will clarify the project’s roadmap and the application process.
Speaking after a high-level administrative meeting in Kalyani, the Chief Minister announced that the state government has begun the process of transforming the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme into the Annapurna Bhandar project. Simultaneously, the Swasthya Sathi card is being restructured along the lines of the central Ayushman Bharat scheme. Starting from June 1, 2026, Nabanna plans to transfer 3,000 rupees in financial aid directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries in a phased manner.
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Who is eligible for the Annapurna Bhandar scheme?
According to the state government’s notification, women between 25 and 60 years of age who are permanent residents of the state can avail the benefits. However, applicants must not be income tax payers. Furthermore, women who hold permanent government jobs or are pensioners are ineligible.
Existing beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be automatically migrated to this new program. However, a special screening or verification process will be conducted to remove dead or fraudulent beneficiaries from the database.
Strict screening and verification guidelines
To maintain transparency, the state administration is taking a very strict stance. Beneficiaries who were marked as deceased, relocated, or absent during recent voter verification or slip distribution exercises will be excluded from the list. This move is expected to significantly reduce wastage of the state exchequer.
However, for those whose names were removed from the voter list but have applied under the Citizenship Amendment Act or have cases pending in tribunals, their grants will continue until a legal resolution is reached. The Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare has been instructed to directly oversee the entire process to ensure no eligible woman is left behind.
How to apply
To keep the application process simple, the government has provided both digital and paper-based options. The form will be officially released on Wednesday in the presence of the concerned minister. Special camps will be organized in every area under the initiative of local MLAs. Additionally, government staff led by Block Development Officers (BDOs) will visit homes to assist with filling out the forms.
