What Is Annapurna Bhandar?
The Annapurna Bhandar Scheme (also referred to as Matri Shakti Bharosa Scheme) is the newest major women’s welfare programme of the Government of West Bengal. Scheduled to officially roll out from 1 June 2026, this scheme replaces the previous Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme.
It significantly expands the monthly cash transfer to a uniform ₹3,000 per month for all eligible women across the state via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), making it one of the largest direct benefit transfers to women in West Bengal’s history.
What Happens to Existing Lakshmir Bhandar Beneficiaries?
- Automatic Migration: All existing Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries will be automatically moved to Annapurna Bhandar after verification. No fresh application is needed.
- Exceptions: Beneficiaries found deceased, shifted out of state, deleted from electoral rolls, or ineligible during re-verification will not be migrated.
- Portal Update: The old Lakshmir Bhandar portal has been officially renamed to the Annapurna Bhandar portal.
Additional Benefit: Free Travel for Women
Alongside the ₹3,000 monthly cash transfer, the West Bengal government has announced that free travel for women in state-run buses will also begin from 1 June 2026. This two-pronged approach aims to boost women’s economic mobility and independence.
The Financial Picture
At ₹3,000 per month with a projected 2.21 crore women covered, the annual outlay for Annapurna Bhandar is estimated at roughly ₹79,000–₹85,000 crore per year. This represents a massive fiscal commitment aimed at direct economic empowerment for women.