Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, is critical of most policies and programs from the Mamata Banerjee government. However, the BJP leader, who served as a key Minister until December 2020, often talks about the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme in his public meetings. Speaking at a meeting in Bandwan, Purulia district, on Saturday, Mr. Adhikari highlighted the economic hardships in the area, which was once a stronghold for the Communist Party of India (Maoist). He stated that the BJP would not stop Lakshmir Bhandar. “We will increase the entitlement to the scheme three times and pay ₹3,000 to every beneficiary,” he declared.
This isn’t the first time Mr. Adhikari has promised to raise the payout, and he frequently emphasizes that the current payment of ₹1,000 from the State government is inadequate. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reassured the people of West Bengal that the BJP would not stop any scheme, especially Lakshmir Bhandar.
Mamata didi says that if the BJP comes to power, it will stop the program. The BJP is not going to stop any scheme. We will increase the benefit of Lakshmir Bhandar by at least ₹100,” Mr. Shah remarked earlier this month in Uluberia.
While Mr. Shah’s promise of a ₹100 increase provided the Trinamool Congress with a chance to label his statements as ‘insensitive’, the mention of the scheme by BJP leaders during the campaign is notable. Weeks before the Lok Sabha election announcement, the West Bengal government raised the cash incentive for Lakshmir Bhandar in the State Budget from ₹500 to ₹1,000 per month for the general category, and from ₹1,000 to ₹1,200 for women from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
Any woman under 60 in the State can claim benefits from the scheme. With over 2.11 crore beneficiaries, Lakshmir Bhandar is the largest cash incentive program in the State. The increased allocation in the State Budget will add an extra ₹1,200 crore to the State’s expenses, bringing the budget for the flagship scheme for 2024-25 to ₹14,400 crore.
Despite the financial strain on the exchequer, the scheme is viewed as a crucial advantage for the Trinamool Congress. Ms. Banerjee announced the program before the 2021 Assembly election, and the promise of cash incentives helped her overcome a decade of anti-incumbency issues.
The BJP’s commitments regarding Lakshmir Bhandar aim to attract women voters, who have mostly supported Ms. Banerjee. The number of women voters in the State is nearly 3.73 crore, making up almost 50% of the total electorate.
Although the Trinamool leadership faces criticism over allegations of sexual assault against women in Sandeshkhali, the party remains optimistic that cash incentive schemes, especially Lakshmir Bhandar, will benefit them this time, just as they did in 2021.
