Annapurna Yojana: West Bengal New ₹3,000 Monthly Support for Women

Overview

West Bengal launched Annapurna Yojana on 1 June 2026. It gives ₹3,000 monthly to women aged 25-60. The money goes directly to their bank accounts. Government employees and income tax payers cannot get it. It replaces the old Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

A New Scheme for Women

The West Bengal government has started a new scheme. It is called Annapurna Yojana. The scheme began on 1 June 2026. It gives cash assistance to women. Every eligible woman gets ₹3,000 per month. The money is sent directly to her bank account. The government uses Direct Benefit Transfer for this. The bank account must be linked with Aadhaar. This scheme will help many women across the state.

What is Annapurna Yojana?

Annapurna Yojana is a cash transfer scheme. It is only for women. The state government wants to support women financially. The money can be used for anything the woman needs. It could be for food, medicines, or children’s school fees. The government believes that giving money directly to women makes them stronger and more independent. The scheme was notified by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare on 19 May 2026.

Who Can Get This Money?

Not every woman can get this money. There are some simple rules.

Age limit:  Women must be between 25 and 60 years old. If you are younger than 25 or older than 60, you cannot get the money.

No income tax:  The woman must not be an income tax payer. If she pays income tax, she is not eligible.

No government job:  The woman must not have a permanent government job. She also cannot get a regular salary or pension from the state or central government. This means women who work as teachers, police officers, or clerks in government offices cannot apply.

If a woman meets all these rules, she can get ₹3,000 every month.

Migration from Lakshmir Bhandar

Before Annapurna Yojana, West Bengal had another scheme. It was called Lakshmir Bhandar. Now the government is closing that scheme. All existing beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar will be moved to Annapurna Yojana. This is called migration.

But some people will not be migrated. The government will remove the following persons from the list:

• Women who have died

• Women who have shifted to another place

• Women whose names are deleted for any reason

• Women who are absentee electors (meaning they do not vote)

Only eligible women from the old scheme will get the new scheme’s benefits.

How to Apply for Annapurna Yojana

The government has set up an online portal. The portal opened on 1 June 2026. New applicants can use this portal to register. Here is how the process works:

1. Go to the official Annapurna Yojana website.