The West Bengal government has proposed a Rs 500 hike in the monthly payments for ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’, its welfare scheme. Currently, women in the general category receive Rs 1,000 monthly, while those in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories get Rs 1,200.
As per the interim Budget proposal, women in the general category will now receive Rs 1,500 monthly, and those in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories will get Rs 1,700. A budgetary allotment of Rs 15,000 crore has been made for the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ project.
The Finance Minister, Chandrima Bhattacharya, also raised the dearness allowance for state government employees and pensioners by four percentage points. Additionally, a new project named ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi’ has been introduced in the interim Budget proposal, offering a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to youths aged 21 to 40 who have passed their secondary examinations.
The interim Budget also includes a Rs 1,000 increase in payments to civic volunteers and green police personnel, with a budgetary allocation of Rs 150 crore for this purpose. Furthermore, a Rs 1,000 hike for ‘Shiksha Bandhus’, grassroots-level workers in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scheme, was announced. The Finance Minister also revealed the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission for the state.
The interim Budget size stands at Rs 4,600 crore, with the full state Budget for the financial year 2026-27 set to be presented by the new cabinet after the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal.
