Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced a series of welfare measures and policy changes in West Bengal, including subsidised meals, monthly financial aid for women and restrictions on liquor shops near schools and temples.
Addressing a public gathering, Adhikari said the state government would provide fish-rice meals for just ₹5 at nearly 400 canteens across Bengal as part of its food support initiative.
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He also announced that forms for the Annapurna Yojana would be distributed from May 27. Under the scheme, eligible women will receive ₹3,000 every month as financial assistance.
Apart from welfare schemes, the government also announced stricter liquor regulations. According to Adhikari, no liquor shops will be allowed within a one-kilometre radius of schools, colleges and temples.
The chief minister described the announcements as part of a broader governance and administrative overhaul in the state.
“We have introduced a new system where it is not the rule of the ruler, but the rule of law,” Adhikari said while addressing reporters.
He added that the government has already begun holding administrative coordination meetings across multiple districts to ensure that the new policies and governance model reach every level of the administration.
According to Adhikari, meetings have already been conducted in Durgapur covering Bankura, East Bardhaman and West Bardhaman districts. Similar outreach programmes are planned for Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Kolaghat in the coming days.
The Bengal government also highlighted several major policy decisions announced recently:
- Ayushman Bharat implemented in the state
- Annapurna Yojana replacing Lakshmir Bhandar
- ₹3,000 monthly aid for women beneficiaries
- Holding centres commissioned across 23 districts for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
- Free bus travel for women in state-run buses
- “Vande Mataram” made mandatory in schools
- ‘Chicken’s Neck’ highways transferred to the Centre
- Land transfer initiated for India-Bangladesh border fencing
- OBC quota revised for 66 communities
- Re-verification of caste certificates issued since 2011
- Government job age limit increased by five years
- Religion-based welfare schemes to be scrapped
- Panels formed to probe alleged corruption and atrocities during previous TMC rule
- ₹5 fish-rice meals at 400 canteens
- No liquor shops within 1 km of schools, colleges and temples
Adhikari said the government’s primary focus remains coordination between elected representatives and the administration while pushing what he described as a governance model centred around “Nation First” policies.
