The West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme is a significant initiative launched by the government of West Bengal to provide financial support to female heads of families who lack a stable source of income to sustain their livelihoods. This welfare scheme aims to uplift and empower women by offering them a reliable financial cushion.
The scheme aims to address financial disparities and empower women as heads of their households. By providing this regular financial support, the government envisions improving the economic well-being of these families and contributing to their overall quality of life.
Objectives:
The West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme has several key objectives:
- Economic Support to Women: The primary objective is to provide essential economic support to women who are the heads of their families. This support aims to improve their financial well-being and livelihoods.
- Monthly Allowance: Female heads of households will receive a monthly allowance of either Rs 500 or Rs 1000 (for SC and ST categories), which can help them meet their daily expenses and enhance their quality of life.
- Extensive Coverage: Approximately 1.6 crore households in West Bengal are expected to benefit from this scheme, making it one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the state.
- Addressing Expenditure: The scheme aligns its benefits with the average monthly consumption expenditure of households in West Bengal, which is approximately Rs 5249. By providing financial aid, it aims to cover 10% to 20% of a beneficiary’s monthly expenses.
- Direct Benefit Transfer: The financial assistance provided under this scheme will be directly deposited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. This ensures a transparent and efficient delivery of benefits.
- Enhancing Self-Sufficiency: By providing regular financial assistance, the scheme aims to make beneficiaries self-sufficient, reducing their dependency on external sources for their daily needs.
- Socio-economic Development: The scheme is expected to contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the state of West Bengal by empowering women and improving their economic status.
- Improved Quality of Life: The financial support offered through this scheme will enable beneficiaries to lead a better quality of life and ensure their basic needs are met.
Benefits:
- Financial support provided to female heads of households.
- Monthly financial assistance of Rs 500 for general category families and Rs 1000 for SC/ST category families.
- Approximately 1.6 crore households in West Bengal will benefit from this scheme.
- The scheme is designed to cover 10% to 20% of the monthly expenditure of beneficiaries.
- Direct transfer of the benefit amount into the bank accounts of beneficiaries.
- Allocation of a substantial budget of Rs 12,900 crores for the scheme’s implementation.
- Implementation of the scheme began on 1st July.
| Name of the scheme | Lakshmi Bhandar |
| Department | Women Development & Social Welfare Department |
| State | West Bengal |
| Launch date | 2021 |
| Launched By | CM Mamata Banerjee |
| Purpose | To give women Rs. 1000 & Rs. 500 per month in West Bengal. |
| Official website | https://socialsecurity.wb.gov.in/ |
Rules and Guidelines:
- Shortlisted candidates will start receiving financial assistance from September 2021.
- Free application forms are available at government camps for registration.
- Application period: 16th August to 15th September.
- Required documents include Aadhar Card, Bank Account passbook, and other relevant documents.
- Families with at least one taxpayer member are ineligible for the scheme.
- General category female candidates with more than two hectares of land cannot register.
- Aadhar card linking with the bank account is mandatory.
- Female candidates aged 25 to 60 years, permanent residents of West Bengal, can apply.
- Casual workers in West Bengal state can also apply, while those with permanent jobs in the private or government sectors are ineligible.
Eligibility Criteria:
- General category families with more than two hectares of land are ineligible.
- Applicants must be residents of West Bengal.
- Families with at least one taxpayer member cannot apply.
- All SC/ST category families are eligible to register.
Required Documents:
- Aadhar card
- Caste certificate
- Residential certificate
- Bank account details
- Ration card
- Age proof
- Income Proof Certificate
- Passport-size photograph of the applicant
- Mobile number
Apply Online Under West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme:
For those interested in applying for the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme, here is a summary of the application process:
- Visit the official website https://socialsecurity.wb.gov.in/ of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
- 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 into the designated box.
- Click on “Login.”
- Select “Apply Online” from the options.
- Fill in the required details in the application form, including beneficiary name, mobile number, email ID, date of birth, father’s name, mother’s name, spouse’s name, bank account details, Duare Sarkar registration number, Swasthya Sathi card number, Aadhaar number, and address.
- Upload all the necessary documents.
- Click on “Submit” to complete the application process.
To check the application status:
- Visit the official website https://socialsecurity.wb.gov.in/ of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
- Enter your registered mobile number and click on “Generate OTP.”
- Enter the OTP received into the OTP box.
- Click on “Login.”
- Select “Check Application Status.”
- Enter your reference number.
- Click on “Check Status” to view the application status.
For logging in to the portal:
- Visit the official website of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme.
- Enter your registered mobile number and click on “Generate OTP.”
- Enter the OTP received into the OTP box.
- Click on “Login” to access the portal.
It’s important to note that the state finance department of West Bengal is set to start direct benefit transfers under the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme from 1st September. Beneficiaries who have applied for the scheme will receive monthly financial assistance, ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1000, in their bank accounts.
Citizens are advised to visit their banks to inquire about their payment status by providing their account number and passbook in the balance inquiry section.
Offline Application Process:
To apply for the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme using the offline process, follow these steps:
- Download the Lakshmi Bhandar Application Form in PDF format from the official website.
- After downloading the application form, take a printout of it.
- Gather all the required documents as specified in the application form.
- Fill out the application form with your details as requested.
- After completing the application form, you may need to fill out a self-declaration form, declaring that the information provided is true to the best of your knowledge.
- Carefully submit the completed application form, along with the required documents, to the concerned department or authority near you.
Duare Sarkaar Camps of West Bengal:
The establishment of Duare Sarkaar Camps in all districts of West Bengal is a commendable initiative by the government. These camps provide a convenient and accessible way for women to access information about the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme and to obtain and submit application forms. By setting up these camps, the government aims to ensure that eligible beneficiaries are aware of the scheme and can easily participate.
Key highlights of the Duare Sarkaar Camps for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme include:
- Accessibility: These camps are set up in all districts, making them easily accessible to women across the state.
- Application Distribution: Women who visit these camps can obtain application forms for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme, making it convenient for them to apply.
- Application Submission: Individuals who have already filled out the application form can submit it at these camps, streamlining the application process.
- Information Dissemination: The authorities managing the camps are instructed to provide comprehensive information about the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme. This helps ensure that potential beneficiaries have a clear understanding of the scheme’s benefits and eligibility criteria.
- Community Outreach: These camps serve as a means of community outreach, helping the government connect with citizens at the grassroots level.
The proactive approach of the government in reaching out to citizens through Duare Sarkaar Camps demonstrates its commitment to addressing the financial needs of women in West Bengal. Additionally, it may contribute to building trust and garnering support from the electorate, as highlighted in your description.
Overall, the West Bengal Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme is focused on enhancing the financial security and well-being of female heads of households in the state, ultimately improving their quality of life.