West Bengal Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme

Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is a women’s financial assistance initiative launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2021, under which eligible women beneficiaries receive monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1,700 for the SC/ST category and Rs. 1,500 for other categories through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). From 1 June 2026, the scheme is being replaced by Annapurna Yojana with enhanced assistance of Rs. 3,000 per month for all eligible women.

Latest Update on West Bengal Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme (2026)

• February 2026: West Bengal Government announced an increase of Rs. 500 per month in the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme assistance amount in Budget 2026-27. SC and ST category women now receive Rs. 1,700 per month and other category women now receive Rs. 1,500 per month.
• 11 May 2026: The new BJP Government held its first Cabinet Meeting at Nabanna Secretariat under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and officially announced Annapurna Yojana as the upgraded replacement for Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme from 1 June 2026 with Rs. 3,000 monthly assistance for all eligible women.
• 18 May 2026: The Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme portal at socialsecurity.wb.gov.in was officially renamed to Annapurna Yojana Portal, confirming the formal transition from the old scheme to the new scheme.
• 19 May 2026: Government of West Bengal issued Official Notification No. 2411-WCD/O/AB-4/2026 confirming Annapurna Yojana launch from 1 June 2026. All existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically migrated to Annapurna Yojana. No fresh application required from existing beneficiaries.

Important: The Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is being replaced by the Annapurna Yojana from 1 June 2026. Existing beneficiaries will automatically receive Rs. 3,000 per month under the new scheme without any fresh application.

Introduction of West Bengal Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme: A Brief Insight

Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is a women’s financial assistance initiative launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2021 to provide monthly cash support to eligible women beneficiaries for managing daily household expenses. The scheme was introduced by the Trinamool Congress Government under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to strengthen financial security for women across rural and urban areas of the state.

Under the scheme, the Government of West Bengal provides monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1,700 to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women and Rs. 1,500 to women from other categories. The assistance is transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank account of the beneficiary every month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The West Bengal Government’s Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare implements the scheme across all districts.

Earlier, the assistance amount under Lakshmir Bhandar Prakalpa was Rs. 1,200 per month for SC and ST women and Rs. 1,000 per month for other category women. The West Bengal Government increased this amount by Rs. 500 per month in the Budget 2026-27, effective from February 2026. For this increase, the Government allocated an additional budget of Rs. 15,000 crore alongside the existing Rs. 26,700 crore already provisioned for the scheme. As of now, around 2 crore 42 lakh women beneficiaries receive financial assistance directly in their bank accounts under Lakshmir Bhandar Prakalpa.

Only women aged between 25 years and 60 years who are permanent residents of West Bengal are eligible to apply. Serving or retired employees of the State or Central Government, and women receiving any pension from any source, are not eligible under the scheme.

In a major development, the new BJP Government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced Annapurna Yojana as the upgraded replacement for the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme from 1 June 2026. Under Annapurna Yojana, all eligible women will receive Rs. 3,000 per month – significantly higher than the current Lakshmir Bhandar amounts. All existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically migrated to Annapurna Yojana without any fresh application. On the same date, the West Bengal Government is also launching the Free Bus Travel Scheme for Women across all state-run buses.

Women who want to understand how Lakshmir Bhandar compares with the new scheme can visit our detailed page on West Bengal Annapurna Yojana for complete information on the upgraded assistance structure, eligibility conditions, and application process.

Women looking for more financial assistance programmes, pension schemes, social security initiatives, scholarship schemes, and welfare programmes can also explore other initiatives available under our West Bengal Government Schemes List section, according to their eligibility and requirements.

Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries

The Government of West Bengal provides the following monthly financial assistance to eligible women beneficiaries under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

• Earlier, the assistance amount was Rs. 1,200 per month for SC and ST women and Rs. 1,000 per month for other category women
• West Bengal Government increased the amount by Rs. 500 per month in the Budget 2026-27, effective from February 2026
• For this increase, the Government allocated an additional budget of Rs. 15,000 crore alongside Rs. 26,700 crore already provisioned
• Financial assistance is transferred directly into the beneficiary’s bank account every month through DBT
• Around 2 crore 42 lakh women beneficiaries receive the benefit of financial assistance directly in their bank accounts under the scheme

Important: From 1 June 2026, the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is being replaced by the Annapurna Yojana, under which all eligible women will receive Rs. 3,000 per month. Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically migrated and will not need to apply again.

Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled

The Government of West Bengal has set the following eligibility conditions for women beneficiaries to receive monthly financial assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.

• Applicant must be a permanent resident of West Bengal
• Applicant must be a woman
• Age of the applicant must be between 25 years and 60 years
• Applicant must not be a serving or retired employee of the State or Central Government
• Applicant must not be a recipient of any other pension from any source

Ineligibility Conditions of the Scheme

Women falling under the following categories are not eligible to apply under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.

• Regular or retired employees of the Government of India or the Central Government
• Regular or retired employees of the State Government
• Employees of Public Sector Undertakings
• Employees of the Government of India Undertakings
• Employees of Village Panchayats
• Employees of Municipal Corporations
• Employees of Local Bodies
• Teaching and non-teaching staff of Government-aided Educational Institutions
• Women receiving a salary or a pension from any source

Documents Required to be Attached

Women applying under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme must keep the following documents ready before submitting their application form at the concerned authority office or Duare Sarkar Camp.

• Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Application Form
• Passport size photograph of the applicant
• Aadhaar Card of the applicant
• Swasthya Sathi Card of the applicant
• Caste Certificate of the applicant
• Bank account details
• Self Declaration Form confirming that the applicant is a permanent resident of West Bengal and is not a recipient of any monthly salary or pension from any source

Important: If the applicant does not have a Swasthya Sathi Card or Aadhaar Card at the time of application, sufficient time will be given to obtain the required document before final registration.

How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme

Eligible women of West Bengal can apply for monthly financial assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme by collecting and submitting the application form through the following official channels.

Step 1: Collect the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Application Form free of cost from the nearest Duare Sarkar Camp or from any of the following offices.

• Block Development Officer’s office
• Sub Divisional Officer’s office
• Municipal Corporation office

Step 2: Fill the application form correctly with all required personal, residential, and bank account details.

Step 3: Attach all required documents, including Aadhaar Card, Swasthya Sathi Card, caste certificate, bank account details, passport size photograph, and the Self Declaration Form.

Step 4: Submit the completed application form along with all documents at the same Duare Sarkar Camp or at the Block Development Officer, Sub Divisional Officer, or Municipal Corporation office.

Step 5: The concerned authority scrutinises the application form and the submitted documents.

Step 6: Final approval of the application is given by the District Magistrate or District Collector. For applicants residing under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation jurisdiction, the Commissioner of KMC acts as the sanctioning authority.

Step 7: Once the application is accepted or rejected, the applicant receives information on their registered mobile number.

Step 8: After approval, monthly financial assistance is transferred directly into the beneficiary’s bank account every month through DBT.

Step 9: Beneficiaries can check their application status and payment status online by visiting the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Application Status portal. Enter the registered mobile number, application ID, Swasthya Sathi card number, or Aadhaar card number. The portal will verify the mobile number through OTP and display the current application or payment status on screen.

Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme to Annapurna Yojana – What Existing Beneficiaries Should Know

West Bengal Government officially announced that the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be replaced by Annapurna Yojana from 1 June 2026. Here is what existing beneficiaries need to know and do before 1 June 2026.

• All existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically migrated to Annapurna Yojana without any fresh application
• Monthly assistance will increase from Rs. 1,500 or Rs. 1,700 to Rs. 3,000 for all eligible women under the new scheme
• Aadhaar-linked bank account must be active and in the beneficiary’s own name for receiving DBT payment under Annapurna Yojana
• Beneficiaries can check and update their Aadhaar-linked bank account through the NPCI BASE Portal without visiting any bank branch
• Women identified as dead, shifted, deleted, or absentee electors during SIR-2026 verification will be removed from the beneficiary list
• Women who filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or have applications pending under the Citizenship Amendment Act will continue receiving assistance till final disposal of their case
• The official portal at socialsecurity.wb.gov.in now operates as the Annapurna Yojana Portal
• New eligible women who were not previously receiving Lakshmir Bhandar benefits can apply fresh through the Annapurna Yojana Portal from 1 June 2026

Important: Existing beneficiaries do not need to take any action. The government will automatically migrate all eligible Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries to Annapurna Yojana from 1 June 2026. Only bank account and Aadhaar details should be kept updated to avoid any payment failure.

Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Beneficiary Verification Process

West Bengal Government issued official order No. 2412-SW/O/LB-02/2026 dated 19 May 2026, directing all District Magistrates across 22 districts and the Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation to verify existing Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme beneficiaries before the transition to Annapurna Yojana on 1 June 2026. The government set a deadline of 25 May 2026 for completing all verifications and corrections on the portal.

This verification process directly affects existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries. Women who currently receive monthly financial assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will go through this verification to confirm their eligibility for automatic migration to Annapurna Yojana. Only verified and eligible beneficiaries will receive Rs. 3,000 monthly assistance from 1 June 2026.

How Verification Works for Existing Beneficiaries

The verification process follows a structured official mechanism involving BDOs, SDOs, and District Magistrates.

• In rural areas, Block Development Officers (BDOs) conduct the field verification of existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries in their respective blocks
• In urban areas outside KMC jurisdiction, Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) handle the verification process in their respective subdivisions
• Within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation jurisdiction, authorised KMC officers conduct the verification
• After field verification, BDOs and SDOs upload the list of ineligible cases on the Annapurna Yojana portal for deletion
• District Magistrates act as the approving authority for deletions across all 22 districts
• The KMC Commissioner acts as the approving authority for deletions within the KMC area

Who May Be Removed During Verification

• Beneficiaries identified as dead in the electoral roll published on 16 February 2026
• Beneficiaries identified as having shifted to another location
• Beneficiaries deleted from the 2nd list after publication of the draft electoral roll
• Beneficiaries deleted after adjudication
• Absentee electors identified during SIR-2026
• ASDD cases found during Voter Information Slip distribution

What Existing Beneficiaries Must Do

• Ensure the Aadhaar-linked bank account is active and in the beneficiary’s own name. This is mandatory for receiving DBT payment under Annapurna Yojana from 1 June 2026
• Ensure the correct Aadhaar number is updated in the portal. If any corrections are needed, contact the nearest BDO office in rural areas or the SDO office in urban areas immediately
• Women whose names appear as shifted or deleted in the electoral roll should contact their nearest BDO or SDO office before 25 May 2026 for clarification
• Women who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or have applications pending under the Citizenship Amendment Act need not worry – they will continue receiving assistance till final disposal of their case

Important: Existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries who do not fall in any excluded category do not need to take any special action. The government will automatically migrate all verified and eligible beneficiaries to Annapurna Yojana from 1 June 2026. However, keeping an Aadhaar bank account updated is strongly recommended to avoid any DBT payment failure.

Application Forms Available for the Scheme

• Application Form of the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, West Bengal.
• Self Declaration Form of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal.

Important Links of the Scheme

• West Bengal Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Official Website.
• Login of the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal.
• Application Status of Lakhsmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal.
• West Bengal Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare.
• English Guidelines of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal.
• Bengali Guidelines of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal.

Contact Details of the Scheme in Case of Help Needed

• Contact Number of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal :- 033-23341563.
• Contact Email of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme West Bengal :- support.lakshmirbhandar-wb@nic.in
• Contact Number of Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, West Bengal :-
  • 033-23341563.
  • 033-23371797.
• Contact Email of Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, West Bengal :- secy.wcdsw@gmail.com
• West Bengal Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare,
  Bikas Bhabhan, 10th Floor,
  DF Block, Sector 1,
  Salt Lake City, Kolkata,
  West Bengal – 700091.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What is the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme?

Ans. Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is a women’s welfare initiative launched by the Government of West Bengal in 2021 to provide monthly financial assistance to eligible women of the state for their basic daily expenses.

Q. Who can benefit from the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme?

Ans. Women who are permanent residents of West Bengal, aged between 25 and 60 years, and meet the prescribed eligibility conditions can benefit from the scheme.

Q. What is the financial benefit offered under this scheme?

Ans. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe women receive Rs. 1,700 per month and women from other categories receive Rs. 1,500 per month. From 1 June 2026, all eligible women will receive Rs. 3,000 per month under the new Annapurna Yojana which replaces the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.

Q. What is the age limit to apply for the scheme?

Ans. Women aged between 25 and 60 years are eligible to apply under the scheme.

Q. Are government employees eligible for the scheme?

Ans. No. Serving or retired employees of the State or Central Government and related bodies, including panchayats, municipal corporations, local bodies, and government-aided educational institutions, are not eligible.

Q. Can pensioners apply for this scheme?

Ans. No. Women receiving any kind of pension from any source are not eligible for the scheme.

Q. How can one apply for the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme?

Ans. Eligible women can apply by filling out the application form available at Duare Sarkar Camps or at the Block Development Officer, Sub Divisional Officer, or Municipal Corporation offices.

Q. What documents are required for the application?

Ans. Required documents include the application form, passport-size photograph, Aadhaar Card, Swasthya Sathi Card, caste certificate, bank account details, and a self-declaration form.

Q. Where should the application form be submitted?

Ans. Applications can be submitted at Duare Sarkar Camps or at the offices of the Block Development Officer, Sub Divisional Officer, or Municipal Corporation.

Q. Who verifies and approves the application?

Ans. The final approval is given by the District Magistrate or District Collector after scrutiny by the concerned authority. For applicants under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation jurisdiction, the KMC Commissioner acts as the sanctioning authority.

Q. How is the financial assistance provided to beneficiaries?

Ans. Once the application is approved, the monthly amount is transferred directly into the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Q. Is the Swasthya Sathi Card mandatory for the scheme?

Ans. Either the Swasthya Sathi Card or the Aadhaar Card is required. Sufficient time is given to obtain the required document if it is not available at the time of application.

Q. How can beneficiaries check their application status?

Ans. Beneficiaries can check their application or payment status online through the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Application Status portal by entering their registered mobile number, application ID, Swasthya Sathi card number, or Aadhaar card number.

Q. Will the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme continue after 1 June 2026?

Ans. Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is being replaced by the Annapurna Yojana from 1 June 2026. Existing beneficiaries will automatically receive Rs. 3,000 per month under the new scheme without any fresh application.

Q. Where can one get help or more information about the scheme?

Ans. For help, contact the helpline at 033-23341563 or email support.lakshmirbhandar-wb@nic.in or visit the nearest Block Development Officer or Sub Divisional Officer office.

Tabassum

Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.