Annapurna Bhandar Scheme to Fully Online Application Process with Direct Benefit Transfer Says Agnimitra Paul

Kolkata : Following the recent change in power in West Bengal, the new government has announced a significant overhaul of the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme aimed at empowering women. On Wednesday, Agnimitra Paul, Minister for Urban Development and Women & Child Welfare, revealed that the government will now move the entire application process for the scheme online.

Taking oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly ( MLA) on 13-05-2026, Wednesday, Minister Agnimitra Paul emphasized that the online portal being developed will be user-friendly enough to allow women from rural areas or those with limited education to apply independently. “The portal will be designed with utmost simplicity to facilitate easy access,” she said.

In the past, applications were processed through initiatives like ‘Duare Sarkar’ (Government at Doorstep). The shift to an online platform seeks to enhance transparency and streamline access to the scheme’s benefits. The department has been instructed to expedite the portal’s development to enable this transition swiftly.

She also further detailed that, in line with the Chief Minister’s commitment, financial assistance under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme will now be disbursed directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) starting June 1. Importantly, all women who have been receiving benefits under the previous ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme will be automatically transferred to the new Annapurna Bhandar scheme.

However, she pointed out that a thorough review will be undertaken to prevent misuse of funds. “We will analyze the data carefully to remove names of deceased persons, non-citizens, or other ineligible beneficiaries,” she explained. The government’s priority is to ensure that funds reach genuinely deserving women without any intermediaries, maintaining full transparency throughout the process.

This move marks a major step towards digitizing welfare schemes and enhances the accountability and efficiency of social benefit distribution in West Bengal. The government’s focus remains on empowering women by providing them direct and hassle-free access to crucial financial aid.