Over time, the scope of this scheme has expanded, and now, in the 2026-27 interim budget, the government has announced an additional increase of Rs. 500, providing relief to millions of women.

The West Bengal government's Lakshmi Bhandar scheme has become one of the biggest schemes for economic support for women in the state. This scheme was launched by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to empower women and help them meet their daily needs. Over time, the scope of this scheme has expanded, and now, in the 2026-27 interim budget, the government has announced an additional increase of Rs. 500, providing relief to millions of women. The government claims that 2.42 crore women are directly benefiting from this scheme. The special feature is that this money is sent directly to the women's bank accounts every month, ensuring a hassle-free process.

Why is the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme special?

In today's times, inflation is constantly rising. In such a situation, managing household expenses, children's education, medicines, and daily necessities is not easy. The Lakshmi Bhandar scheme provides women with a fixed amount every month, giving them financial security. This is why this scheme is considered one of the most popular and successful schemes of the Bengal government.

How much money is provided under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme?

After the recently announced increase, the amount received by women is now Rs. 1500 per month for women of the general category and Rs. 1700 per month for women of the SC-ST category. Earlier, this amount was Rs. 1000 for the general category and Rs. 1200 for SC-ST. The new increase will be implemented from February 2026.

Who can avail the benefits of the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme?

To avail the benefits of this scheme, women have to fulfill some necessary conditions. For example, the woman must be a permanent resident of West Bengal. The woman's age should be between 25 and 60 years, and her name should be registered under the Swasthya Sathi scheme. The woman or any member of her family should not be a permanent employee of the central or state government. The woman must not be receiving a government pension and must not be employed in a regular job at any government undertaking, municipality, panchayat, or government-aided institution. If all these conditions are met, the woman is considered eligible for this scheme.

How to apply for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme?

The application process for the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme is entirely offline. Application forms for Lakshmi Bhandar can be obtained from the Duare Sarkar camps, the BDO (Block Development Officer) office in rural areas, and the SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) office in urban areas. In the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, forms are available at the KMC office. Then, carefully fill in all the information requested in the form. Attach self-attested copies of the required documents with the application form. Submit the filled form to the concerned office or the Duare Sarkar camp. The application will be verified by the authorities and approved if found correct. After the application is approved, the fixed amount will be directly transferred every month to the Aadhaar-linked bank account.