Mamata govt boosts ASHA wages, Lakshmir Bhandar aid in pre-poll push

Mamata Banerjee

The West Bengal government on Thursday increased the monthly payout under its flagship Lakshmir Bhandar scheme to Rs 1,500 from Rs 1,000, a move widely seen as an attempt by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to consolidate women voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections due in April-May.

Presenting the interim vote-on-account Budget for 2026–27 in the Assembly, State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya also announced a new scheme titled Bangla Yuba Sathi, under which unemployed youth aged 21 to 40 will receive Rs 1,500 per month until they secure employment or for a maximum of five years.

The scheme is proposed to be rolled out from August 15, subject to the government returning to power after the elections.

Under the revised Lakshmir Bhandar structure, women in the general category will now receive Rs 1,500 per month, up from Rs 1,000, while those belonging to the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe communities will get Rs 1,700 instead of Rs 1,200. The interim Budget earmarks Rs 15,000 crore for the scheme.

The government also announced a Rs 1,000 increase in honorarium for ASHA workers and raised remuneration for ICDS staff, para teachers, Siksha Bandhu, Siksha Sahayak, civic volunteers and green police personnel.

Dearness Allowance for state government employees has been increased by 4 per cent, and gig workers have been brought under the Swastha Sathi health insurance scheme. The Seventh Pay Commission for state employees was also announced.

The size of the interim Budget stands at Rs 4,600 crore, with the full Budget for 2026–27 to be presented by the new cabinet after the Assembly polls.

Addressing the media, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the financial plan as a “pro-people” budget despite what she termed financial deprivation by the Centre. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, however, criticised the proposals as “anti-youth” and “anti-industry”, claiming the Budget lacked concrete employment measures.