West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme – In West Bengal, many families face challenges in meeting their daily expenses. To assist these families, the West Bengal government has introduced the WB Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme. This initiative aims to provide essential monthly income support to female heads of households. This article outlines the key details of the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme including its objectives, features, benefits, application process, eligibility requirements, and necessary documents. For those interested in this scheme, please read the full article for all the important information you need.
Overview of the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme 2025
The West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme aims to offer basic income support to female heads of family. The government will provide Rs 1000 per month to families in the general category and Rs 1200 per month to families belonging to SC/ST categories. Approximately 1.6 crore households are expected to benefit from this initiative. This scheme has been designed considering that the average monthly household expenditure in West Bengal is Rs 5249. The assistance provided through this scheme will cover between 10% to 20% of the monthly expenses of beneficiaries. Payments will be credited directly to the bank accounts of the eligible recipients.
Updates as of February 2025 – The government has revised the financial assistance to Rs 1000 per month for women in the general category and Rs 1200 for women from SC/ST backgrounds.
Key Details of the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
| Name of the Scheme | West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme |
| Launched By | Government of West Bengal |
| Beneficiaries | Female Heads of Households |
| Objective | To Provide Basic Income Support |
| Official Website | socialsecurity.wb.gov.in |
| Year | 2025 |
| State | West Bengal |
| Number of Beneficiaries | 1.6 Crores |
| Assistance for General Category | Rs 1000 per month and Rs 12000 per year |
| Assistance for SC and ST Category | Rs 1200 per month and Rs 14,400 per year |
| Application Procedure | Online/Offline |
Guidelines of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
The government has established specific rules and guidelines for the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme. Female heads of households from economically disadvantaged backgrounds will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1000, while those from SC/ST communities will receive Rs 1200. Eligibility criteria and guidelines for this scheme were detailed by the Department of Women and Child Development on July 30. The scheme officially commenced on September 1. This program is part of the election manifesto of the Trinamool Congress.
Eligible female heads of households can expect reliable monthly support, directly credited to their bank accounts. The scheme is anticipated to aid around 1.6 crore families in West Bengal.
Rules and Criteria for the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
- The benefits under this scheme began from September 2025.
- Free application forms are available at government camps throughout the state.
- Applicants can apply between August 16 and September 15.
- Essential documents include an Aadhaar card and a bank account passbook.
- Families with at least one tax-paying member are not eligible.
- General category women owning more than 2 hectares of land cannot apply.
- Financial assistance will be transferred directly to the beneficiary’s bank account.
- The Aadhaar number must be linked to the bank account.
- To apply, women must be permanent residents of West Bengal and aged between 25 and 60 years.
- Women employed in permanent jobs within the public or private sectors are ineligible.
- Casual workers are eligible to apply.
District-Wise Breakdown of Applicants
| South 24 Parganas | 213750 |
| Murshidabad | 131844 |
| North Dinajpur | 44625 |
| West Midnapore | 782 |
| East Midnapore | 74426 |
| Alipurduar | 20790 |
| Birbhum | 5426 |
| South Dinajpur | 21748 |
| East Burdwan | 62506 |
| Cooch Behar | 57100 |
| Malda | 34340 |
| Jhargram | 28631 |
| Bankura | 45608 |
| West Burdwan | 12695 |
| Jalpaiguri | 34720 |
| Darjeeling | 20955 |
| Nadia | 56496 |
| Purulia | 42613 |
| Howrah | 48914 |
| Kalimpong | 2341 |
| Kolkata | 10448 |
Goals of the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
The primary goal of the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme 2025 is to offer fundamental financial support to female heads of households. The program will provide Rs 1000 monthly for the general category and Rs 1200 for SC/ST families. This financial assistance will facilitate daily living expenses, promoting self-sufficiency among women and enhancing both rural and urban economies. The initiative aims to empower women in West Bengal, reducing dependency on others for everyday needs.
Benefits and Features of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
- The West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme has been launched to support women.
- Financial assistance is directed to female heads of families consistently.
- This scheme provides Rs 1000 monthly for the general category and Rs 1200 for SC/ST categories.
- 1.6 crore households are beneficiaries of the scheme.
- It considers the average monthly expenditure of a household in West Bengal, estimated at Rs 5249.
- This financial support will cover approximately 10% to 20% of the beneficiaries’ monthly expenses.
- The assistance will be credited directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
- All eligible households from SC/ST communities can apply.
- The West Bengal government has designated a budget of Rs 12900 crores for the implementation of this scheme.
- The Lakshmi Bhandar scheme was part of the Trinamool Congress’s election manifesto.
- The implementation of this initiative started on July 1.
Eligibility Criteria for Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
- The applicant must be a resident of West Bengal.
- All families belonging to SC/ST categories are eligible.
- General category families with any tax-paying member are not eligible.
- General category applicants with more than 2 hectares of land cannot apply.
Documents Required for Application
- Aadhaar card
- Caste certificate
- Ration card
- Residential certificate
- Age proof
- Bank account details
- Passport-sized photograph
- Mobile number
Application Process for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
- Eligible candidates in West Bengal wishing to apply for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme should first download the Lakshmi Bhandar Application Form PDF.
- After downloading, print the application form.
- Collect all required documents and carefully fill in the form, including details such as:
- Duare Sarkar Registration Number
- Swasthyasathi Card Number
- Aadhaar Number
- Beneficiary Name
- Mobile Number
- Email ID
- Date of Birth
- Father’s Name
- Mother’s Name
- Spouse Name
- Address
- Bank Account Details
- Complete the SELF DECLARATION form included.
- After preparing the application, submit it to the relevant department.
Online Application Process for the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
- Visit the official website for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
- The homepage will load.
- Enter your registered mobile number on the homepage.
- Click on “generate OTP.”
- You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number.
- Enter this OTP in the designated area on the site.
- Click on “login.”
- Then click on the “apply online” link.
- The application form will be displayed.
- Fill in the required details in the application form, including information such as:-
- Beneficiary Name
- Mobile Number
- Email ID
- Date of Birth
- Father’s Name
- Mother’s Name
- Spouse Name
- Bank Account Details
- Duare Sarkar Registration Number
- Swasthya Sathi Card Number
- Aadhaar Number
- Address
- Upload all necessary documents.
- Click on “submit.”
- Following this method, you can complete the online application for the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
Checking Your Lakshmi Bhandar Application Status
- Go to the official website of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
- Enter your registered mobile number and click on “generate OTP.”
- Input the OTP into the designated field.
- Click on “login.”
- Then, select “check application status.”
- Provide your reference number.
- Click on “check status.”
- Your application status will be displayed on the screen.
<liThe homepage will appear.
Logging into the Portal
- Visit the official website for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
- The homepage will load.
- Enter your registered mobile number on the homepage.
- Click on “generate OTP.”
- Check your registered mobile number for the OTP.
- Enter the OTP into the designated box.
- Click on “login.”
- Following these steps will allow you to log into the portal.
Projected Start of Bank Transfers for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme
The finance department of West Bengal is set to implement direct benefit transfers starting from September 2025. Beneficiaries who have applied will receive monthly financial support ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 1200 in their bank accounts. This scheme was a feature in the agenda of the Trinamool Congress. Women without government jobs aged between 25 to 60 will benefit from this initiative. As of August 31, approximately 1.1 crore applications for the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme have been submitted.
- It is anticipated that around 2 crore women will receive assistance from this scheme. The DBT method is expected to roll out from September 1, while applications are still under review. Applicants will receive an acknowledgment slip upon submitting their application.
- Payments will be transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts after careful verification. Beneficiaries can check their receipt status through their respective banks. Banks will fully operate starting September 2.
- With many new accounts being opened under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, citizens are encouraged to contact their banks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for assistance.
How to Check Your Lakshmi Bhandar Payment Status
- First, visit your bank and bring your passbook.
- Go to the balance inquiry section.
- Provide your account number and your passbook for verification.
- The bank staff will confirm whether your payment under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme has been credited or not.
- You can follow these steps to check your payment status under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme.