Approximately 30 lakh individuals associated with the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme have been identified as ineligible for the new Annapurna Bhandar scheme, according to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. This announcement was made public on Wednesday following a comprehensive review of the beneficiaries of the previous scheme, which was a hallmark initiative of the earlier Mamata Banerjee administration.

Adhikari stated that the individuals excluded from the list were either non-Indian citizens or had been permanently removed from the state’s voter registry. This review process was conducted to ensure that only eligible recipients would benefit from the new scheme, reflecting a stringent approach towards welfare distribution in the state.

The verification process for this review was initiated after the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list, which commenced on May 19. Reports indicate that the government sought to verify the authenticity of beneficiaries by conducting a thorough survey to identify those who might not meet the eligibility criteria for aid.

Details Surrounding the Annapurna Bhandar Scheme

The Annapurna Bhandar scheme, also referred to as Annapurna Yojana, is set to officially launch on June 1. It promises a fixed monthly payout of Rs 3,000 to eligible women, in contrast to the previous Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which offered between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,700 monthly.

As of now, approximately 2.21 crore women currently benefit from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, with general category recipients receiving Rs 1,500 each month, and those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes receiving Rs 1,700. The financial aid aims to support women in West Bengal by providing them with direct cash transfers.

During a press conference at Nabanna, the state secretariat, Chief Minister Adhikari reiterated that about 30 lakh recipients were receiving Lakshmir Bhandar payments despite being ineligible due to their status either in voter records or related citizenship applications. He noted that the government will not offer welfare benefits to those who have been expunged from the voter rolls during the review process.

Impact of Voter List Revision on Beneficiaries

The Election Commission of India executed the Special Intensive Revision to cleanse the electoral rolls in West Bengal, resulting in the removal of approximately 91 lakh voters. This effort accounted for nearly 12 per cent of the electorate, with various categories such as deceased, duplicate, and shifted voters contributing to the overall number.

In total, about 58 lakh names were removed under standard categories, while another 6 lakh were omitted during the final roll publication. A rigorous judicial review regarding citizenship and ancestral linkage resulted in the deletion of an additional 27 lakh individuals. As of May 22, around 34 lakh appeals were pending, with 1,607 names reinstated in the voter list.

The West Bengal administration proceeded with a survey of Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries to ensure integrity in the upcoming Annapurna Bhandar scheme. District authorities were instructed to engage booth-level electoral officers in verifying beneficiary authenticity, focusing on those identified during the voter list revisions. The government emphasised that ineligible individuals, including non-citizens, would not receive payments under the new initiative.

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