Kolkata: The West Bengal budget for FY2025-2026 will be presented in the state assembly on 12 February. This was decided after a meeting of the state cabinet at Nabanna presided by the CM Mamata Banerjee.
The budget session will start on 10 February and the Minister in Charge of Finance (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya will present the state budget on 12 February.
This budget assumes a special proposition as it becomes the last full budget to be presented by the government before the state Assembly elections in April-May 2026. Because of the elections, next year there will only be a vote-on-account budget with the full budget to be presented by the new government only after the elections.
The highlight of the state budget seems to be the proposed idea to increase the quantum of grants to women from economically backward sections under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Currently, women from the general category receive Rs 1000 under the scheme while those in SC/ST categories receive Rs 1200, the amount is likely to double in the Budget and be somewhere between Rs 2000 – Rs 3000.
Currently, 2.21 Lakh Crore women in the state are benefiting from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme and the number is likely to increase this budget. As a precursor, under the current ongoing Duare Sarkar programs, more and more beneficiaries are being registered under the scheme. While 60 was the earlier age cap for recipients, it is being hiked to lifelong from now onwards.
Other states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra to have replicated the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme under different names like Ladli Behna and Maiya Samman among others.
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