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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari connected Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said the State authorities would statesman issuing forms for the Annapurna Yojana from May 27, 2026. Speaking aft an administrative reappraisal gathering astatine Kalyani, Mr. Adhikari said the process would formally commence connected Wednesday (May 27, 2026).
Annapurna Yojana
Under the scheme, women volition person ₹3,000 per month. The existing Lakshmir Bhandar strategy volition proceed until the caller programme is afloat implemented.
“Like we are continuing Swasthya Sathi till its conversion to Ayushman Bharat is complete, similarly, until the Annapurna Yojana is afloat rolled out, Lakshmir Bhandar volition continue. From tomorrow, the process for Annapurna Yojana begins,” helium said.
Mr. Adhikari said a signifier for the Annapurna Yojana would beryllium released from the State secretariat connected Wednesday (May 27, 2026) evening, on with Minister Agnimitra Paul.
He said forms for the strategy would beryllium issued from Nabanna and made disposable some online and offline.
“I, on with Minister Agnimitra Paul, volition beryllium publishing a signifier for Annapurna Yojana from Nabanna time successful the beingness of the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary. Detailed guidelines volition besides beryllium announced,” helium said.
New currency assistance strategy for women
The Chief Minister said beneficiaries would statesman receiving payments soon aft enrolment and verification.
“As and erstwhile forms are filled up, ₹3,000 volition commencement getting credited into beneficiaries’ accounts. The faster radical implicit registration, the faster they volition person benefits,” Mr. Adhikari said.
Mr. Adhikari said MLAs and territory officials would assistance women successful completing the exertion process. “People volition not beryllium near wholly connected their own. MLAs volition assistance beneficiaries capable retired forms, portion teams nether Block Development Officers volition spell door-to-door to assistance applicants,” helium said.
Mr. Adhikari besides asserted that lone Indian citizens would beryllium eligible for the scheme. “Keep successful caput that lone Indians volition get this opportunity. India’s wealth is not meant for infiltrators coming from Bangladesh. This has been made precise clear,” helium said.
Database cleansing exercise
The West Bengal authorities has initiated a verification and database cleansing workout for beneficiaries of the projected Annapurna Yojana. District administrations person been instructed to implicit the process earlier the strategy is launched connected June 1, an authoritative said connected Friday (May 22, 2026).
According to an authoritative bid issued by the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, the workout is aimed astatine identifying and removing ineligible names from the beneficiary database and ensuring due authentication of genuine recipients.
“All existing beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar strategy shall beryllium migrated to the Annapurna Yojana but the dead, shifted, deleted and absentee electors identified during SIR 2026, deletion successful the 2nd database aft work of draught list, deleted aft adjudication, and those marked arsenic ASDD, that is Absent, Shifted, Dead, oregon Duplicate, recovered during elector gaffe distribution,” a authorities notification dated May 19, 2026, said.
Officials person besides been directed to guarantee that Aadhaar-linked slope accounts of beneficiaries are decently updated connected the portal to facilitate nonstop payment transfer.
Online portal for verification
According to the authorities communication, a dedicated online portal is being developed for authentication of beneficiaries, correction of records and rationalisation of the database.
“The monitoring is being carried retired astatine the highest level. District-wise advancement reports are being submitted to the Chief Secretary each evening to guarantee adherence to timelines,” the authoritative added. The bid further stated that the verification and database cleansing workout indispensable beryllium completed by May 25.
Eligibility criteria
Women aged betwixt 25 and 60 years, who are not imperishable authorities employees receiving salaries oregon pensions and who bash not wage income tax, volition beryllium eligible for fiscal assistance of ₹3,000 per period nether the Annapurna Yojana.
The assistance volition beryllium credited done the Direct Benefit Transfer strategy to Aadhaar-linked slope accounts successful the sanction of the beneficiary.
The authorities has besides announced that an online exertion portal volition beryllium launched connected June 1 to accommodate caller applicants for the scheme.
The announcement stated that caller applications would beryllium examined by authorised authorities oregon Kolkata municipal officials, depending connected the applicant’s spot of residence.
