Bengal budget puts women at centre stage with Rs 36,000-crore welfare push
Politics 22 Jun, 2026

Bengal budget puts women at centre stage with Rs 36,000-crore welfare push

Business To Business, Kolkata, 22nd June, 2026:  Women emerged as a major focus of the first budget presented by the BJP government in West Bengal, with Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announcing a substantial welfare package aimed at economic empowerment and social support.
Presenting the 2026–27 Budget in the state Assembly, Dasgupta allocated ₹36,000 crore for the Annapurna Yojana, describing it as a key component of the government's vision of inclusive development.
Annapurna Yojana
The flagship scheme will provide eligible women aged 25 to 60 years with a monthly direct cash transfer of ₹3,000.
According to the government, the programme is intended to:

  • Strengthen women's financial independence
  • Enhance household income security
  • Support vulnerable and low-income families
  • Promote inclusive economic growth
Focus on Women's Empowerment
The allocation underscores the government's effort to place women at the centre of its welfare strategy. Direct benefit transfer (DBT) mechanisms are expected to be used to ensure that financial assistance reaches beneficiaries directly.
The ₹36,000-crore provision makes the Annapurna Yojana one of the largest welfare initiatives announced in the state's budget and reflects the government's emphasis on social protection and income support.
Political and Economic Significance
The scheme is likely to have a broad impact given the size of the target population and could become one of the defining welfare programmes of the new administration.
By combining direct income support with other social welfare measures announced in the budget, the government aims to boost women's participation in economic activity while improving household financial stability across the state.

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