As a step towards revolutionizing the social security of women in West Bengal, the state government has sanctioned the implementation of the Annapurna Yojana scheme. The new social security scheme is projected to provide financial aid worth ₹3,000 per month for each eligible woman in the state.
The introduction of the Annapurna Yojana marks a significant improvement in comparison to the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, the general category people get financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month (₹1,500 recently). In the case of SC/ST women, the amount provided by the government is ₹1,200 per month (recently increased to ₹1,700). Hence, by launching the new Annapurna Yojana scheme, the government has raised the aid amount to ₹3,000 for all women.
The policy is believed to be an important measure taken by the state government to empower women. With increased money in the hands of women in the wake of inflationary pressure, the new scheme will contribute positively to the state economy as well as to the dignity of women as household heads.
Though the decision has created excitement among many people, the government has observed that the exact procedures, conditions, and the mechanism to shift from Lakshmir Bhandar to Annapurna Yojana have yet to be fully outlined. It is still unknown whether the new initiative will entirely substitute the previous initiative or operate as an advanced version catering exclusively to certain socio-economic groups.
The Lakshmir Bhandar scheme was the initial stepping stone toward the new program. The program was initiated in February 2021, making it the hallmark of the welfare programs of the West Bengal government. The scheme was established with the intention of providing some economic independence to underprivileged women by giving them enough money to manage their domestic needs.
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