Archive · 7 Sep 2026
West Bengal Economy Shows Slow Recovery, Chief Minister Says
West Bengal’s Chief Minister said the state’s money problems are beginning to improve.
He said the recovery is slow and could take about a year.
He blamed the previous government for poor financial management, corruption-related losses and not joining some Central schemes.
The current government says joining those schemes is bringing more money into the state.
It also says it has reduced some revenue leaks.
The government expects this could increase the state’s own tax revenue by 18 percent.
Monthly payments for older people, widows and people with disabilities have risen from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500.
Officials are checking whether the right people receive welfare payments.
Earlier waiting lists have been cancelled, so people must apply again through new public welfare camps.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said West Bengal’s fiscal health is improving slowly but has not fully recovered.
Adhikari attributed the earlier economic crisis to alleged fiscal indiscipline, corruption-related revenue losses and reluctance to join Central schemes.
The state has joined various Central schemes, bringing in more funds, according to the Chief Minister.
Old-age, widow and disability allowances increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month beginning Monday.
The government cancelled previous waiting lists, plans fresh applications through welfare camps and is checking for fake beneficiaries.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and the state government.
- What
- The government announced welfare-payment increases and described a gradual improvement in the state’s fiscal condition.
- When
- The announcement was made on Monday, when the higher payments began.
- Where
- West Bengal, at a function marking the start of the enhanced allowance disbursement.
- Why
- The government says joining Central schemes, reducing revenue leakages and removing fake beneficiaries will improve state finances and welfare delivery.
- Allowance increase
- Old-age, widow and disability payments rose from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per month.
- Expected tax-revenue improvement
- The government expects measures against revenue leakages to improve its own tax revenue by 18 percent.
- Economic recovery timeline
- Adhikari said it may take about a year for the state to emerge from the economic crisis.
- Central schemes
- The state has decided to join various Central schemes, which the Chief Minister said are bringing in more funds.
- Beneficiary verification
- The government is identifying fake beneficiaries, including alleged cases of men receiving widow allowances.
- Previous waiting lists
- Waiting lists prepared under the previous government were cancelled, with fresh applications to be accepted at public welfare camps.