The West Bengal government has released the first installment of financial assistance under the Annapurna Yojana to nearly 1.1 crore women
July 1, 2026: The West Bengal government has transferred the first installment of financial assistance under the Annapurna Yojana to nearly 1.1 crore women beneficiaries, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced during the launch of the scheme in Kolkata. Speaking at the inauguration event, he said the government had received around 1.6 crore applications, reflecting strong public response to the programme.
According to the Chief Minister, nearly 26 lakh applications were rejected following scrutiny over doubts related to citizenship and domicile status. Defending the verification process, Adhikari said the government was required to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries received public funds. He added that the first installment was transferred through direct bank transfers after the completion of the verification process.
The Chief Minister said the Annapurna Yojana replaces the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme and provides eligible women with ₹3,000 in monthly financial assistance. He said the scheme aims to support women across the state, with the first phase of payments now reaching nearly 1.1 crore verified beneficiaries.