West Bengal government approved free bus
travel for women in state-run
¨
West Bengal government
approved free bus travel for women in state-run buses on 18 May 2026.
¨
The government also
approved the “Annapurna Scheme,” also referred to as the “Annapurna Bhandar
Scheme.”
¨
Both schemes will come
into effect from 1 June 2026.
¨
The objective is to
strengthen women’s economic security and make public transport more accessible.
¨
Under the new
arrangement, women will be allowed free travel in all state-operated buses
across West Bengal.
¨
The scheme will benefit
women in both rural and urban areas.
¨
It is considered
especially important for students, working women, and daily commuters.
¨
According to the
government, the initiative will reduce travel expenses for women and encourage
greater use of public transport.
¨
The move is also expected
to increase women’s social and economic participation.
¨
The Annapurna Scheme is a
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-based welfare programme for economically weaker
women.
¨
Under the scheme,
eligible women will receive financial assistance of ₹3,000 per month.
¨
The assistance aims to
support household expenses and improve women’s financial stability.
¨
The government described
the initiative as a major step toward strengthening the social security
framework for women.
¨
Women already receiving
benefits under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically included in
the Annapurna Scheme.
¨
A new portal will be
launched for women not currently covered under the existing system.
¨ Likely eligibility conditions include age between 25 and 60 years, permanent residency in West Bengal, inclusion in the voter list, Aadhaar-linked bank account, and belonging to the economically weaker section.
¨ Beneficiary lists will be verified before implementation to remove ineligible names.
