Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari pitches Rs 12,000-15,000 monthly support for poor families

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said it was "our" responsibility to ensure that economically weaker and needy families receive financial assistance of Rs 12,000-15,000 per month through various welfare schemes.

Addressing gatherings during the inauguration of Durga Puja pandals at Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, where he has a longstanding political association, Adhikari said the government must take responsibility for families that genuinely need economic support.

"We have to take responsibility for families that are genuinely economically weak and in need. We have to arrange Rs 12,000-15,000 per month for them through various government schemes," he said.


It was not immediately clear from his address whether the proposed assistance was specifically intended for families in Nandigram or would apply to economically weaker households across the state.

He did not provide further details on the proposed assistance, but emphasised that genuinely economically disadvantaged families should receive adequate financial support from the government.

Adhikari also said he would continue to represent Bhabanipur in south Kolkata as an MLA for as long as its people wanted him, while retaining his lifelong association with Nandigram as a voter.

"I will remain as long as the people of Bhabanipur want me, but I will continue to be a voter of Nandigram for life," he said.

He also spoke of the government's target of providing jobs to one lakh educated young men and women through transparent, merit-based examinations.

Referring to various welfare schemes and infrastructure development initiatives, Adhikari also highlighted what he described as a change from the previous government.

He claimed that he had been unable to visit minority-dominated areas of Nandigram during the 2021 and 2026 elections, but was now being welcomed with flower showers.

"This is the real change," he said.