kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, August 9: The West Bengal government’s ‘Annapurna Yojana’, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that eligible women whose applications have already been verified will start receiving financial assistance of Rs 3,000 directly into their bank accounts from August 17. The announcement was made by the Chief Minister during a press conference at Nabanna.

Suvendu Adhikari said that from September onwards, the financial assistance under the scheme would be transferred directly to beneficiaries during the second week of every month. According to him, the government has already completed almost the entire verification process for applications submitted up to July 10. However, applications submitted between July 11 and July 31 will require some additional time for verification.

The Chief Minister said that women whose applications have been successfully verified will be included in the first phase of payments. Starting August 17, Rs 3,000 will be transferred to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. The government has therefore decided to begin the payment process with applications for which the verification process has already been completed.

Suvendu further stated that the payment system would become regular from September. From that month onwards, beneficiaries will receive Rs 3,000 during the second week of every month. He also claimed that the financial assistance would continue for as long as the BJP government remains in power in the state.

The Annapurna Yojana was introduced by the BJP government after it came to power in West Bengal, replacing the previous Trinamool Congress government's ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme. Under the new scheme, the monthly financial assistance for eligible women has been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000.

The Chief Minister, when the government initially came to power in June, around 28 lakh women were brought under the Annapurna Yojana. Subsequently, the scheme was formally launched at Netaji Indoor Stadium on July 1, following which the number of women covered by the programme rose to approximately 1.19 crore.

However, a large number of women were initially left out of the scheme, leading to dissatisfaction among sections of the public. In response, the state government decided to reopen the application process and allowed eligible women to submit fresh applications until July 31.

Suvendu Adhikari claimed that by the end of the application period, approximately 2.16 crore women had applied for the Annapurna Yojana. However, he made it clear that simply submitting an application would not automatically make every applicant eligible to receive Rs 3,000 per month.

The Chief Minister stressed that the money being distributed under the scheme comes from government funds and therefore must be allocated strictly according to prescribed eligibility criteria. He said financial discipline would have to be maintained while implementing the welfare programme and that applications would be carefully scrutinised before payments were made.

Suvendu, women belonging to financially well-off families and applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be entitled to receive the financial assistance. The government, he said, would ensure that the benefits reach only those who fulfil the prescribed conditions.

While explaining the need for strict verification, the Chief Minister also raised questions about the implementation of the previous government's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. He claimed that investigations had revealed instances in which men had allegedly received financial assistance under the earlier scheme.

Suvendu said that the government would remain particularly cautious to ensure that such irregularities do not occur under the Annapurna Yojana. The verification process, he indicated, would be used to prevent ineligible individuals from receiving benefits and to ensure that public funds are distributed only among genuine beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister also raised concerns about what he described as misleading information being circulated on social media regarding the Annapurna Yojana. He alleged that a particular group was deliberately attempting to provoke women by spreading incorrect information about the scheme.

Suvendu, the government's social media team is closely monitoring the situation. He warned that individuals found deliberately spreading misleading information about the Annapurna Yojana would be identified and action would be taken against them.

Suvendu maintained that there was no reason for beneficiaries to be confused about the scheme and its payment process. He urged people to rely on official information regarding eligibility, verification and payment dates rather than believing unverified claims circulating on social media.

The announcement of the August 17 payment date is expected to bring relief to women whose applications have already cleared the verification process. At the same time, applicants whose forms were submitted during the later phase will have to wait until the verification process is completed.

The government is now preparing to begin the first major payment phase under the scheme. From August 17, eligible and verified beneficiaries will start receiving Rs 3,000 in their bank accounts, while the regular monthly payment cycle is scheduled to begin from the second week of September.

The Chief Minister also reiterated the BJP government's commitment to continuing welfare programmes for women and other sections of society. He said the government intends to remain in power for a long period and continue implementing public welfare initiatives.

With more than two crore applications reportedly submitted for the Annapurna Yojana, the verification and payment process is expected to remain a major administrative exercise for the state government. The government will now have to complete verification of the remaining applications while ensuring that payments are made accurately and without irregularities.

The women whose applications have already been verified, August 17 is now the key date, as the first instalment of Rs 3,000 is scheduled to reach their bank accounts from that day. From September onwards, the government has announced that the financial assistance will be transferred every month during the second week, subject to eligibility and successful verification.