Yuba Sathi Scheme: The West Bengal government presented its budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 today, bringing a basket of promises for the citizens. This year’s budget is particularly significant for the state’s youth and government employees. With the upcoming elections in mind, several populist schemes have been announced, the biggest surprise being a monthly allowance for unemployed youth. From government employees to beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar, there is good news for almost everyone.
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‘Banglar Yuba Sathi’ Scheme: Eligibility and Benefits
The announcement that created the most buzz in the budget speech is the state government’s newly proposed scheme, ‘Banglar Yuba Sathi’ (Youth Companion of Bengal). This initiative aims to alleviate the unemployment issue in the state.
- Financial Benefit: Under this scheme, eligible candidates will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1500.
- Age Limit & Qualification: Unemployed youth of the state aged between 21 and 40 years can apply for this benefit. The minimum educational qualification required is passing the Madhyamik (10th standard) examination.
- Launch Date: However, this benefit is not immediate. The ruling party has clarified that the scheme will be implemented from August 15 only if they return to power in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. Essentially, this has been placed in the budget as a forward-looking promise tied to the election outcome.
Good News for Lakshmir Bhandar & Anganwadi Workers
Significant announcements were also made regarding the state’s most popular scheme, ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’.
- To strengthen the women’s vote bank, the allowance for this scheme has been increased by ₹500. This hike will directly benefit millions of women across the state.
- Additionally, addressing the long-standing demands of Anganwadi workers and helpers, their remuneration has also been hiked. Anganwadi workers will see an increase of ₹1000, and helpers will also benefit from an increased allowance.
DA Hike for Government Employees
To address the grievances of government employees and pensioners, a hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) was also announced in this budget. The state government has declared an additional 4% DA for its employees. Although protests regarding arrears DA are ongoing, this 4% increase is expected to bring some relief. All in all, the primary goal of this budget was to make it ‘people-centric’ ahead of the 2026 elections.
