Bengal's interim budget focuses on women, youth; BJP claims appeasement politics
India Today
The state announced the launch of a new scheme, 'Banglar Yuva Sathi', under which unemployed people aged 21–40 will receive Rs 1,500 per month until they secure a job or for a maximum period of five years.
Ahead of the assembly elections, the West Bengal government presented an interim budget aimed at women and unemployed youth. Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya unveiled new welfare measures and expansions to existing schemes while presenting a Rs 4.06 lakh crore budget for 2026-27.
The state announced the launch of a new scheme, ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi’, under which unemployed people aged 21–40 will receive Rs 1,500 per month until they secure a job or for a maximum period of five years.
The flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme for women has been expanded, with beneficiaries set to receive an additional Rs 500 per month from February 2026, raising the monthly support from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.
Gig workers will be brought under existing social security programmes such as Swasthya Sathi. Anganwadi workers and helpers will get a Rs 1,000 monthly allowance hike and a Rs 5 lakh compensation for families in case of death, backed by an allocation of Rs 280 crore. ASHA workers will also receive an additional Rs 1,000 per month.
The interim budget also proposes a Rs 1,000 monthly pay increase for civic volunteers and green police personnel, with Rs150 crore earmarked for the move. State government employees will get a 4% hike in dearness allowance.
The budget allocates Rs 5,700 crore to the Minority Affairs Department and Rs 920 crore for North Bengal. The BJP has accused the Mamata Banerjee government of neglecting North Bengal.
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