Modi Hails Annapurna Yojana as Boost for Women’s Financial Independence in Bengal

NEW DELHI, SEP 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the Annapurna Yojana as a significant new initiative to strengthen Nari Shakti in West Bengal, saying that assured financial assistance directly credited to women’s bank accounts would help enhance their economic independence and ease the burden of household expenses.

Addressing beneficiaries and the people of West Bengal through video conferencing, Modi marked the release of the scheme’s latest monthly instalment of Rs 3,000 to eligible women. The disbursement coincided with his 76th birthday and Vishwakarma Puja.

Around 1.58 crore women are set to receive the September instalment through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Modi said the impact of the scheme went beyond financial assistance, as regular support could strengthen women’s confidence and give them a greater role in managing household finances.

“When the worries related to daily household expenses are reduced, the confidence of women becomes stronger,” he said, stressing that beneficiaries would receive a fixed amount every month without having to depend on intermediaries.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the DBT mechanism, under which the assistance is credited directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. He said the system was aimed at ensuring transparent welfare delivery while eliminating intermediaries and reducing the scope for leakages.

Referring to the practice of “cut money”, Modi asserted that the new system would help ensure that government assistance reached beneficiaries directly and transparently.

Introduced by the West Bengal government in 2026, the Annapurna Yojana provides assured monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 to eligible women in the 25-60 age group, subject to prescribed conditions. The scheme is aimed at strengthening women’s socio-economic security and promoting greater financial independence.

The scheme also provides for the migration of eligible beneficiaries from the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme into the Annapurna framework, with financial assistance transferred through DBT into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

According to state government figures, around 1.58 crore women are receiving the September instalment, compared with approximately 1.48 crore beneficiaries in August, indicating an expansion in the scheme’s coverage.

Modi linked the initiative to the broader objective of improving the “ease of living” of women, saying government policies should address women’s needs at different stages of life, including maternal nutrition, girls’ education, economic security and financial empowerment.

The Prime Minister’s remarks also highlighted the government’s emphasis on technology-driven welfare delivery, with direct transfers intended to make the system more transparent and minimise the role of intermediaries.

The West Bengal government marked September 17 as “Annapurna Diwas” to commemorate the latest instalment. The occasion, coinciding with Modi’s birthday and Vishwakarma Puja, brought the state’s women-oriented financial assistance programme into focus.