West Bengal Launches Annapurna Yojana Enrolment for Eligible Women: Eligibility Criteria, Required Documents, and Application Process Explained

West Bengal Launches Annapurna Yojana to Promote Women's Empowerment

The West Bengal government has initiated the enrolment process for the Annapurna Yojana, also known as the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, aimed at promoting women's empowerment and supporting household finances. The scheme, which was approved by the state cabinet on May 10, will provide assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women beneficiaries aged 25-60 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Key Features of the Scheme

The existing beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar will be migrated to the Annapurna Yojana, while new applicants can submit their forms online through the official Annapurna Yojana portal, which will launch on June 1. The state government has released the draft application form for enrolling women beneficiaries under the Annapurna Yojana on the official portal.

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Eligibility and Exclusion Criteria

To be eligible for the scheme, a woman beneficiary must be a resident of West Bengal and aged between 25 and 60 years. However, certain categories are excluded from the scheme, including:

Benefits and Documents Required

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Eligible women beneficiaries will receive Rs 3,000 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Applicants must furnish relevant documents and details of themselves and all family members listed on the application form. Required documents include:

• Proof of address and identity: Aadhaar card, voter's card, PAN card, ration card, passport, etc.
• Proof of income: Aadhaar-linked bank account details
• Proof of land ownership (if applicable): Registration documents, mutation certificates, and the latest Record of Rights (RoR) with the date of its last update

Application Verification Process

The Block Development Officers (BDOs) in rural areas and Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) in urban areas will recommend the list of eligible applicants to the District Magistrate for sanction. The District Magistrate will then verify the applications and approve the beneficiaries. The scheme is set to launch on June 1, with the district administrations instructed to complete the process before the launch date.