Women whose names were removed during West Bengal’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may not receive benefits under the state government’s new Annapurna Bhandar scheme, state Minister Agnimitra Paul said on Monday.
The programme, which replaces the Trinamool Congress’ Lakshmi Bhandar scheme from June 1, will provide Rs 3,000 per month to eligible women, up from Rs 1,500 under the previous scheme.
“Those women whose names are on the list will receive it,” Paul told reporters, according to IANS. “There will be an analysis. Names removed during SIR that previously received Lakshmi Bhandar benefits may not get it now.”
Paul added that the review would account for deceased persons and non-citizens, asking, “Those who have died, how will they receive Lakshmi Bhandar? Those who are not Indian citizens, how will they receive Lakshmi Bhandar?”
The announcement follows the recent SIR of electoral rolls ahead of West Bengal’s Assembly elections. By April 6, around 9.1 million voters—nearly 11.9% of the electorate—had been removed. About 3.4 million appeals were pending with appellate tribunals, of which 700,000 contested inclusion and 2.7 million contested exclusion. The tribunals reinstated 1,607 names.
Paul said pending appeals against exclusion would be temporarily excluded from Annapurna Bhandar eligibility.
Paul, the state’s minister for women and child development and social welfare, is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that took office last Saturday.
After the first Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said existing welfare schemes would continue, but “non-existent beneficiaries, fake beneficiaries and those who are not Indians” would be excluded, The Telegraph reported. The Cabinet also approved the rollout of several Union government programmes in the state, including the Ayushman Bharat health coverage scheme.