Mamata Banerjee advances enhanced payouts to women ahead of state election

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that she will start giving enhanced benefits under the 'Lakshmir Bhandar' scheme from February itself, before elections are announced in the state. Trinamool Congress, which swept the West Bengal polls in 2024 and 2021 riding on women's votes by focusing on schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, hopes to replicate the same formula this time.

The state, which had 94 schemes, has now crossed a century. The state budget stated that "already 2.21 crore women are being benefitted under the scheme. I am happy to include another 20.62 lakh women whose applications have been received under this scheme."

"To strengthen the hands of about 2.42 crore women, all those covered under this scheme will be entitled to an additional ₹500 per month from February 2026," finance minister Chandrima Bhattarcharya said in her budget speech. Presently, SC/ST women get ₹1,200, which has been increased to ₹1,700 while the general category women who used to get ₹1,000, will now get ₹1,500.