“Provide monthly financial assistance of ₹3,000 to women to ensure their economic independence.”
🛡️ Verified Ground-Level Operational Proof
To ensure full transparency, we track direct verifiable evidence of this scheme’s implementation on the ground by combining independent citizen reports with official media coverage.
📺 Official Video & News Broadcasts
Watch official broadcasts and examine news reports covering the on-ground rollout of this scheme.
📋 Detailed Tracking History
The West Bengal government officially rolled out the Annapurna Yojana, transferring the first tranche of ₹3,000 directly into the bank accounts of 28 lakh women beneficiaries. Additionally, a new online citizen application portal (socialregistry.wb.gov.in) has been launched on June 5, 2026, for new registrations, replacing the old social security portal.
Reports indicate that despite previous official assurances, existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries are not being automatically migrated to the ₹3,000 Annapurna Bhandar scheme.
The government has clarified that all existing beneficiaries must now complete a new, extensive application—either via the newly launched online portal or the 12-page offline form—and undergo strict fresh verification. This includes providing detailed household, financial, and asset information.
Beneficiaries failing to submit this application within 90 days will continue receiving only the older ₹1,500 amount until successfully approved. The government defended this extensive scrutiny by claiming that nearly 30 lakh previous beneficiaries were fraudulent or ineligible.
The West Bengal government officially launched the Annapurna Bhandar (Yojana) social security portal, releasing the detailed scheme criteria and downloadable application forms. The scheme mandates that applicants must be Indian citizens aged 25–60 years, permanent residents of West Bengal, and from economically weaker households.
Individuals who are income tax payers, government employees, or pensioners are strictly excluded from receiving the monthly benefits.
The 11-page Family Level Data Collection Form requires extensive household-level disclosures, including assets (pucca rooms, land decimals, vehicle models), financials (GSTIN, PAN, pension), health insurance details (premium, sum assured), and children's vaccination/school records alongside standard IDs (Aadhaar, EPIC).
Regional publications and citizens have raised concerns regarding the procedural friction created by this massive data volume and the associated privacy risks of potential leaks.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari officially released the online and offline application forms for the Annapurna Bhandar (Yojana) scheme, launching a 90-day registration and verification window starting June 1, 2026.
Overseen by the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary, the audit aims to verify eligibility and eliminate approximately 30 lakh duplicate or ineligible records currently migrated from the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.
Women aged 25–60 registering by June 2 will receive their first ₹3,000 disbursement in June, with older scheme payouts continuing in the interim to avoid disruption.
While excluding income tax payees, government employees, and those receiving permanent salaries or pensions from statutory or aided bodies, the scheme explicitly accommodates CAA citizenship applicants and individuals with pending voter tribunal appeals.
The Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare issued the formal gazette notification (No. 2411-WCD/O/AB-4/2026 dated 19 May 2026) officially constituting the 'Annapurna Yojana' scheme. The notification confirms ₹3,000 per month will be credited via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, effective 1 June 2026.
Eligibility is defined as women aged 25–60 years who are not in permanent government employment (union or state), not drawing salary/pension from any statutory body, panchayat, or aided institution, and are not income-tax payees.
All existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries (except those dead, shifted, deleted, or identified as absentee electors during SIR-2026) will be automatically migrated. An online application portal for new applicants opens on 1 June 2026.
Sanctioning authority rests with District Magistrates in districts and the KMC Commissioner in Kolkata Municipal Corporation area. This notification was issued with concurrence of the Finance Department.
The Bengal Police launched a statewide awareness campaign warning citizens about a cybercrime syndicate targeting the newly approved 'Annapurna Bhandar' financial scheme through fake application portals and phishing attempts.
On May 18, 2026, the state cabinet officially approved the 'Annapurna' monthly financial assistance scheme for women, set to launch on June 1, 2026. The government clarified that existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically migrated to the new scheme, which will disburse ₹3,000 monthly directly into bank accounts.
Additionally, women who applied for citizenship under the CAA or approached tribunals for voter roll inclusion will also be eligible, and a new portal will soon open for fresh applications.
In the first cabinet meeting, CM Suvendu Adhikari announced the "Annapurna Bhandaar" scheme to replace Lakshmir Bhandar, providing ₹3,000 per month to eligible women starting June 1, 2026. No official gazette notification published yet — tracking cabinet statement only.
📌 Additional Context & Notes
The Annapurna Yojana serves as an upgraded replacement for the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. However, income tax payers, government employees, and pensioners remain explicitly ineligible for the benefits.
📁 Official Notices & Gazette Documents
⚖️ Public Accountability & Permanent Record: This page serves as a long-term historical record. Even after a promise is marked as "Fulfilled," we will continue to post new updates here to track any policy reversals or the long-term efficacy of the scheme on the ground. Any future lapses in implementation will be documented here.