Annapurna Bhandar Scheme Launched in West Bengal; ₹3,000 Direct Benefit Transferred to Over 1.09 Cr. Women

The West Bengal Government on Tuesday officially launched the much-awaited Annapurna Bhandar Scheme, marking a significant milestone in its welfare agenda. The inauguration ceremony was held at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, where Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the commencement of the scheme.

As part of the first phase, financial assistance of ₹3,000 was directly transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism to the bank accounts of more than 1.09 cr. women beneficiaries across the state. The government described the initiative as a major step towards strengthening women’s financial independence and providing direct economic support to eligible households.

Officials stated that the DBT system ensures transparency, eliminates intermediaries, and enables beneficiaries to receive funds directly into their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The state administration expects the scheme to gradually cover a much larger section of eligible women in the coming months.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme reflects the government’s commitment to social welfare and inclusive development. He added that the initiative is aimed at easing the financial burden on economically weaker families while empowering women through direct financial assistance.

The launch event witnessed the presence of senior ministers, government officials, public representatives, and thousands of beneficiaries from different districts of West Bengal. The government termed the scheme as one of its flagship welfare programmes and indicated that its implementation would be expanded in a phased manner across the state.

The successful rollout of the first phase is expected to set the stage for wider implementation, with authorities monitoring the programme closely to ensure smooth and timely disbursement of benefits to all eligible recipients.