Kolkata: The West Bengal government’s monthly assistance scheme, “Lakshmi Bhandaar,” has been increased by ₹500 per beneficiary. This proposal was presented in the interim (vote-on-account) budget for the financial year 2026-27 presented in the House by West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Thursday. Currently, women in the general category receive ₹1,000 per month, while women in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories receive ₹1,200. According to the interim budget proposal, women in the general category will now receive ₹1,500 per month, while women in the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories will receive ₹1,700. A budget of ₹15,000 crore was allocated for the “Lakshmi Bhandaar” project in the interim budget proposals.
Bhattacharya also increased the dearness allowance for state government employees and pensioners by four percentage points on Thursday. A new project was announced in the state’s interim budget proposal. The project is named ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi’. While reading out the interim budget proposal, Bhattacharya said, “If we come back to power after the assembly elections this year, this project will be started from August 15 this year. Youths between the age of 21 and 40 who have passed the secondary examination will be given an allowance of Rs 1,500 every month.”
He announced a monthly pay increase of ₹1,000 for civic volunteers and green policemen, allocating a budget of ₹150 crore. He also announced a ₹1,000 increase for “Shiksha Bandhus,” the grassroots workers of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme. He also announced the Seventh Pay Commission for the state. The interim budget was ₹4,600 crore. The new cabinet will present the full state budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 after the crucial assembly elections later this year.
