Bengal govt announces Rs 3,000 aid for women, ends religion-based stipend schemes
PTC Web Desk: The West Bengal cabinet on Monday approved a new financial assistance scheme for women under the “Annapurna Yojana.” Under the programme, eligible women across the state will receive Rs 3,000 from June 1.
Women who are already beneficiaries of the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme will automatically be covered under the new initiative. The government will also launch a separate online portal for women who are not currently enrolled under existing welfare schemes.
The state government has additionally announced free bus travel for women across West Bengal beginning June 1.
While briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul said the government has decided to gradually discontinue religion-based financial assistance schemes run under the Madrasa Department and the Information & Cultural Department. Existing projects will continue till the end of the month before being phased out completely.
Although no detailed clarification was given, the state government had earlier introduced monthly stipends of Rs 3,000 for imams and Rs 2,000 for Hindu priests. The imam allowance was launched in 2012 during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure, while financial support for priests began in 2020 during the COVID-19 period.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also held his first janata darbar on Monday at a BJP office in Salt Lake, where he interacted with people and heard their complaints and demands. According to party leaders, such public hearing sessions will now be organised regularly during Adhikari’s tenure as CM.
Students and residents from different parts of the state attended the interaction and submitted their grievances directly to the chief minister.
The West Bengal BJP highlighted several decisions taken by the new “double engine” government during its first week in office between May 9 and May 16.
In a post on X, the party claimed the new administration had moved quickly on governance issues and welfare measures.
The BJP said the steps taken in the first week reflected a change in the pace of administration in the state and would help strengthen public trust in the government.
- With inputs from agencies
