Bengal CM Adhikari announces Annapurna eligibility criteria, payments from August 17

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced the eligibility criteria for the state's Annapurna scheme, under which eligible women aged between 25 and 60 will receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000, with payments set to begin from August 17. Adhikari said women earning more than Rs 10,000 a month or belonging to families with an annual income exceeding Rs 12 lakh would not qualify for the scheme. Women already receiving certain government benefits, including disability allowance and assistance under PM-Kisan, would remain eligible for Annapurna benefits if they fulfil the other prescribed conditions, he said.

Rural eligibility widened

Clarifying the criteria for rural beneficiaries, Adhikari said owning a house with more than three rooms or possessing more than 50 decimals of land would not, by itself, make a woman ineligible for assistance.

“Last month, questions were raised about many eligible women not receiving the money. Now, women in rural areas having more than three rooms will also get the benefit. This will increase the number of rural women covered under the scheme,” he said.

The Chief Minister said women receiving other government allowances of less than Rs 3,000 a month would be entitled to receive the difference under the Annapurna scheme.

Widows aged between 25 and 60 would also qualify, subject to the condition that they are not receiving benefits under another social security scheme, he added.

Final verification and scrutiny of applications are underway, and the assistance will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries beginning August 17.

Adhikari said the Finance Department would transfer the money district-wise. Beneficiaries whose verification has been completed would subsequently receive the assistance in their accounts during the second week of every month.

Beneficiary count rises

The Chief Minister said the number of women covered by the scheme was expected to increase further this month.

According to him, around 28 lakh women received assistance under Annapurna in June, while the number increased sharply to 1.19 crore in July.

Adhikari also targeted the previous Trinamool Congress government, accusing it of taking several months to extend financial assistance to beneficiaries and carrying out repeated verification.

He said the present government would ensure that women who fulfil the eligibility conditions receive the promised assistance without unnecessary delays.

The Annapurna scheme was among the BJP's key promises for women in its West Bengal election manifesto and was implemented after the party formed the government in the state.

Adhikari said payments would be made on a priority basis to women who meet the eligibility requirements, with the government seeking to expand coverage as verification of applications is completed.