West Bengal to Potentially Save Over Rs 1,300 Crore by Scrapping Religion-Based Welfare Programs

West Bengal Could Save Rs 1,300 Crore by Discontinuing Religion-Linked Schemes

The West Bengal government's decision to discontinue religion-linked schemes, excluding those related to education, could result in significant savings of over Rs 1,300 crore in the 2026-27 fiscal year. According to an analysis of state budget documents by Moneycontrol, the current fiscal year's budget allocated more than Rs 1,364 crore for programmes linked to minority welfare, pilgrimage assistance, and direct support to priests, imams, and muezzins.

The expenditure includes grants to the West Bengal State Haj Committee, construction of a second Haj House, development of waqf properties, assistance to Durga Puja committees, support for the Jagannath Yatra, and the Purohit Welfare Scheme. Within the minority affairs department, the broader outlay totals Rs 749.7 crore, which includes Rs 3.3 crore for grants to the Haj Committee, Rs 2 crore for the construction of a second Haj House, Rs 10 crore each for graveyard boundary walls and waqf asset development, and Rs 17 crore for publicity and publication.

The budget also allocates significant funds for cultural and religious support, with Rs 55 crore earmarked for grants to Durga Puja committees. A previous Moneycontrol analysis found that since FY20, the state has consistently spent more than budgeted on puja-related support, largely through direct grants to organising committees. Since 2018, the per-committee grant has increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 85,000, while the number of beneficiary committees has roughly doubled.

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The breakdown of the allocated funds for the current fiscal year is as follows:

The discontinuation of these schemes could significantly reduce discretionary spending and free up resources for other priorities such as infrastructure, education, and social welfare.