The West Bengal government has decided to increase payments for the state-sponsored old-age pension and disability pension schemes. Previously set at Rs 1,000 per month, the new amount will be doubled to Rs 2,000. While the exact date for implementing the raised payments is yet to be finalized, sources suggest it may come into effect from June 1.
A new scheme called West Bengal Annapurna Bhandar is set to be launched, offering a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 to women in the state. Under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme introduced by the previous government, women received Rs 1,500 in the general category and Rs 1,700 in reserved categories. The BJP’s election manifesto included the Rs 3,000 monthly payment scheme.
Agnimitra Paul, a BJP legislator, now heads the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department overseeing these allowance schemes. Women voters, a key support base for the previous government, notably shifted towards the BJP in the recent elections, aiding the party in forming its first government in West Bengal. The promise of Rs 3,000 under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme is seen as a significant factor in this shift.
