Thousands of women across West Bengal are eagerly awaiting the rollout of the Annapurna Yojana, under which eligible beneficiaries are expected to receive ₹3,000 per month from June 1. However, State Women and Child Development Minister Agnimitra Paul has now clarified that merely submitting the newly introduced application form will not ensure approval for the scheme.
The clarification comes amid growing confusion over the enrolment process. Earlier, the state government had indicated that women already receiving benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar would automatically be considered for the Annapurna Yojana. But a separate 12-page application form was later released, making registration mandatory for applicants.
Addressing reporters, Agnimitra Paul said that completing the form is only the first step in the verification process. According to the minister, applications will be carefully scrutinized before any financial assistance is sanctioned under the scheme.
When questioned about earlier statements suggesting that existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries would receive the new benefit, Paul said the government was unaware of several irregularities at the time. She claimed that a significant number of male beneficiaries had allegedly been receiving Lakshmir Bhandar funds, prompting the administration to introduce a stricter verification mechanism.
The minister also revealed that the information collected through the application form will not be used solely for the Annapurna Yojana. She said the database could support the implementation of multiple Central government welfare schemes expected to be launched in the state in the future.
The state government has repeatedly claimed that the Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiary list contains a large number of ineligible names. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that nearly 30 lakh fake beneficiaries are currently included in the database, with some male applicants reportedly receiving payments meant for women.
Officials say the verification exercise is aimed at identifying genuine beneficiaries and ensuring that only eligible women receive financial assistance under Annapurna Yojana. The government has also made it clear that Indian citizenship will be one of the key eligibility requirements, and every application will be examined before approval.
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