BJP claims public enthusiasm for Annapurna Yojana amid reported implementation issues

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has released a statement asserting that the public response to the state's women's cash-assistance program, Annapurna Yojana, has been "extraordinary" just five months after its launch. Released on October 4, 2026, this proclamation originates from Kolkata and mentions that women "across West Bengal gathered at Seva Setu camps to express their gratitude" for the scheme. The BJP claims that more than 1.6 crore women have been empowered through this initiative, although this characterization lacks independent verification of satisfaction or support among beneficiaries [1].

Annapurna Yojana, officially described on the West Bengal government website, is a welfare program designed to assist women aged 25 to 60 who are residents of West Bengal. Participants in the program receive a monthly payment of Rs 3,000, and the application process is facilitated through local government offices or the social registry portal. The program's official web page was last updated on June 26, 2026 [2].

According to earlier reports from independent sources, Annapurna Yojana was set into motion in May 2026, aimed at providing financial support to 2,825,769 women as part of its initial rollout phase. These reports indicated that the government intended to hold weekly briefings regarding the verification and enrollment of recipients [3].

However, contrasting narratives regarding the program's success have emerged, underscoring significant challenges in its implementation. The Times of India noted on July 5, 2026, that out of 1.62 crore applications, approximately 27.83 lakh had been provisionally rejected. The government announced plans to verify these rejections and upgrade the online portal to address issues with claims and objections [4].

As of late September and early October 2026, demonstrations have erupted across the state, with numerous reports detailing protests from women over delayed or missing payments associated with the Annapurna Yojana. A report from The New Indian Express on October 2 described various incidents where women blocked roads and caused damage to camps due to frustrations over the delays in receiving their funds. The West Bengal government reported that 1.58 crore women were able to receive their payments for September, but many applications remained categorized as either "under process," "under enquiry," or "rejected" [5].

The available evidence presents a complex picture of the Annapurna Yojana's impact. While the BJP’s statement heralds a robust response from beneficiaries, independent reporting suggests a narrative where significant bureaucratic hurdles and public dissatisfaction coexist with these claims of positive public sentiment. This juxtaposition indicates that the BJP's remarks should be interpreted as a political assertion of enthusiasm rather than an unequivocal reflection of the actual sentiments among women in West Bengal [2].

Sources

• [1] People's response towards state's 'Annapurna Yojana' has been extraordinary: Bengal BJP - The Presidency
• [2] Annapurna Yojana
• [3] Bengal government rolls out Annapurna Yojana: 28 lakh women get Rs 3,000 each | Kolkata News - The Indian Express
• [4] State to review rejected Annapurna applications by July 10 | Kolkata News - The Times of India
• [5] Annapurna scheme delayed payments trigger women’s protests across Bengal

Researched and edited with AI assistance.

Featured image: AI-generated representative image.