Lakshmir Bhandar: Recently, various discussions have been circulating on social media and in some news outlets regarding an increase in the allowance for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Many are eager to know if the state government is indeed planning to raise the scheme’s financial assistance once again. In this report, we will attempt to clarify the current situation based on the latest information.
Lakshmir Bhandar: Current Situation & Officially Announced Allowance
Lakshmir Bhandar is a highly popular welfare scheme by the Government of West Bengal. Through this project, women aged 25 to 60 in the state receive monthly financial assistance directly in their bank accounts.
As per the announcement made in 2024, the allowance for this scheme was increased. The rates at which beneficiaries are currently receiving funds are:
- For women in the General Category: ₹1000 per month.
- For women in the Scheduled Caste (SC) & Scheduled Tribe (ST) Category: ₹1200 per month.
Beneficiaries are currently receiving assistance at these rates, and no official announcement of a further increase in this allowance was made during the presentation of the recent state budget (for the 2025-26 fiscal year). The Minister of State for Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, has clearly stated that the Lakshmir Bhandar allowance is not being increased in this budget.
Recent News on Allowance Increase & Its Reality
Reports from some sources suggesting that the Lakshmir Bhandar allowance would increase from July 2025 to ₹1500 for the general category and ₹1800 for the SC/ST categories have not yet received any official backing or announcement. Therefore, the authenticity of such news remains questionable. Beneficiaries are requested to rely only on government announcements and credible sources for information regarding this matter.
2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections & Potential Allowance Increase
The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in 2026. Past experience shows that state governments often announce enhancements to welfare schemes or launch new projects before elections. In this context, the possibility of an increase in the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme’s allowance in the future cannot be entirely ruled out. However, this is entirely dependent on the government’s policy decisions, and there is no confirmed news on this yet. It remains a matter of political speculation. Until a clear announcement comes from the state government, such possibilities should not be considered certain.
Conclusion
The Lakshmir Bhandar scheme undoubtedly plays a crucial role in the financial security of women in the state. For any news regarding an increase in allowance, it is best to rely on official notifications from the state government or reputable media outlets. For now, the benefits of this scheme will continue at the pre-determined rates (₹1000 for General and ₹1200 for SC/ST). It is advisable to wait for official announcements for any future changes and not to be swayed by misleading news.
