West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari Highlights ₹3,000 Assistance Under Annapurna Scheme

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated the BJP government's commitment to launching the Annapurna Scheme, stating that the initiative was a key promise in the party’s Sankalp Patra (manifesto). According to him, the scheme aims to provide direct financial assistance of ₹3,000 to eligible women beneficiaries as part of a broader welfare initiative.

Speaking on the proposed implementation process, Adhikari said that nearly 3 million individuals have neither applied under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) nor approached tribunals for related proceedings, while many continue receiving government benefits. He emphasized that the proposed scheme is intended for eligible residents of India, while individuals who have applied under the CAA or appealed before tribunals after adjudication would be treated as exceptions.

He further stated that a dedicated application form is being introduced through the Department of Women and Child Development. According to him, the initiative would involve the administrative machinery under the supervision of senior officials, including the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary, to prepare an accurate database of beneficiaries.

Adhikari added that the application process would also gather family-related information, which could assist the government in implementing additional welfare initiatives for families in the future. He stressed that the objective is to create a transparent and clean beneficiary list so that benefits reach only those who are genuinely eligible.