Annapurna Yojana Verification: 30 Lakh ‘Fake’ Beneficiaries Found, Eligible Bengal Women To Get Rs 3,000

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced that nearly 30 lakh "fake" or ineligible beneficiaries have been identified during the verification of the Lakshmir Bhandar database as the State government prepares to roll out the Annapurna Yojana.

The BJP government's proposed Annapurna Yojana, announced as part of its election manifesto, will provide Rs 3,000 every month to eligible women beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The new scheme will gradually replace Lakshmir Bhandar, which will continue during the transition period.

30 Lakh 'Fake' Beneficiaries Identified During Verification

Addressing a press conference, Adhikari said the government has launched a large-scale verification and database cleansing drive to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive financial assistance under the new scheme.

"We want details of beneficiaries and family data to be collected in central and state schemes," the Chief Minister said, adding that over 2.20 crore women are currently receiving benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar.

According to Adhikari, the verification process uncovered around 30 lakh fake or ineligible names in the database. He claimed that names deleted from electoral rolls, duplicate entries and non-eligible individuals were found among beneficiaries.

Citing an example, Adhikari referred to a case involving a man identified as Rakibul Sheikh from Baharampur's Rasharghat Gram Panchayat, who was allegedly receiving benefits under the women-centric scheme.

Annapurna Yojana To Replace Lakshmir Bhandar

"In our manifesto we announced the Annapurna Yojana. After the formation of the government, the scheme was approved in the first cabinet meeting itself. It was our primary idea that the beneficiaries under Lakshmir Bhandar should be verified," the Chief Minister said.

Adhikari also clarified that Lakshmir Bhandar will continue until the full rollout of Annapurna Yojana is completed.

The Chief Minister said forms for Annapurna Yojana would start being issued from Nabanna as the government begins the migration process for existing beneficiaries and registration of new applicants.

Who Will Be Eligible for Rs 3,000 Monthly Aid?

Under the new scheme, women aged between 25 and 60 years will receive Rs 3,000 every month directly into their bank accounts.

Permanent government employees, pensioners and income tax payers will not be eligible for benefits. The State government has also made Aadhaar-linked bank accounts mandatory for Direct Benefit Transfer under the scheme.

Adhikari further stated that only Indian citizens would be eligible for the financial assistance.

"India's money is not meant for infiltrators coming from Bangladesh. This has been made very clear," he said.

However, he added that individuals who have applied under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) or related tribunals may still be considered.

Online, Offline Enrolment To Continue for 90 Days

The Chief Minister announced that the enrolment process for Annapurna Yojana will begin from Friday and continue for 90 days.

Both online and offline application facilities will be available through municipal corporations, borough offices and panchayats. The government also plans to provide door-to-door assistance for women applicants through field teams.

"As and when forms are filled up, Rs 3,000 will start getting credited into beneficiaries' accounts. The faster people complete registration, the faster they will receive benefits," Adhikari said.

Govt Begins Database Cleansing Ahead of June 1 Rollout

The State government has already instructed district administrations to complete verification and remove ineligible names before the official launch of the scheme on June 1, 2026.

Officials have been directed to ensure Aadhaar-linked bank account details are updated correctly so that Direct Benefit Transfers face no technical delays.

According to the government, a dedicated online portal is also being developed for beneficiary authentication, correction of records and rationalisation of the database.

Special Camps To Help Women Complete Registration

Adhikari announced that special camps for women beneficiaries would be organised between June 15 and June 17 to answer queries related to applications, verification and eligibility.

The verification and enrolment process will involve multiple departments, including the Chief Secretary's office, Finance Department, Home Department, WEBEL, IT Department and Personnel & Administrative Reforms Department.

"We want genuine beneficiaries to receive the benefits and ensure that deserving women are not deprived," the Chief Minister said.