West Bengal Approves ₹3,000 Monthly Women’s Welfare Scheme From June 1

The West Bengal cabinet on Monday approved the “Annapurna” scheme , under which women will receive Rs 3,000 monthly assistance from June 1, along with free travel in government-run buses, officials said.

The decision was announced after a cabinet meeting, with state minister Agnimitra Paul stating that the scheme will benefit eligible women, including those who have applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and those who have approached tribunals seeking inclusion in voter rolls. The benefits will begin from June 1 as part of a broader welfare push by the state government.

The scheme is seen as similar in structure to welfare initiatives already implemented in neighbouring southern states such as Telangana and Andhra Pradesh , where governments have introduced direct cash transfer programmes and financial assistance schemes aimed at women’s empowerment and household support. Like those models, the “Annapurna” scheme focuses on monthly cash support to women beneficiaries , combined with social welfare measures to improve mobility and economic security.

The cabinet also approved the constitution of the 7th State Pay Commission , which will examine pay revision for state government employees as well as staff in allied statutory civic bodies, education boards, and state-run educational institutions, Paul said.

In another major decision, the government announced it would discontinue assistance to groups based on religious categorisation from June. It also scrapped the existing OBC list in compliance with a Calcutta High Court judgment and decided to set up an inquiry panel to reassess reservation eligibility criteria.

The announcements mark a significant set of welfare and administrative decisions taken by the cabinet ahead of the implementation phase from June 1.