Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Suvendu Announces Annapurna Rally Amid Benefit Protests
The Annapurna Yojana is meant to give eligible women ₹3,000.
Many women said they did not receive the money when expected.
The government said 1.45 crore women were eligible, but payments had reached 1.37 crore people by Thursday.
Some applications were rejected, and others had not yet been checked.
Block offices will create help centres so women can ask officials to review their applications.
Suvendu Adhikari said every woman who is truly eligible will eventually be included.
He also announced a large rally in Calcutta on September 17.
Opposition parties said the government had made promises before the election but was now applying conditions.
The BJP said some protests were being organised by political opponents, while the Trinamool Congress and CPM blamed the government for the payment problems.
Suvendu Adhikari said all remaining eligible women would be added to Annapurna Yojana.
Of 1.62 crore initially verified applicants, 1.45 crore were identified as eligible.
Funds had reached 1.37 crore beneficiaries by Thursday, while 17 lakh applications were rejected and 18 lakh awaited verification.
The government directed block offices to establish facilitation centres for women seeking claim reviews.
Suvendu announced a September 17 rally in Calcutta with one lakh beneficiaries to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
- Who
- Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, Annapurna applicants, and opposition parties including the Trinamool Congress and CPM.
- What
- The government is responding to protests over unpaid Annapurna Yojana benefits and has announced further verification, enrolment, and a one lakh-beneficiary rally.
- When
- The announcement was made Saturday; the rally is planned for September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
- Where
- The protests were reported across the state, with the rally planned in Calcutta and facilitation centres at block offices.
- Why
- Women protested after not receiving the promised ₹3,000, while the government said some applications were rejected or still awaited verification.
Government and BJP Position
Opposition Criticism
Reason for missing payments
Government and BJP Position
Suvendu Adhikari said applications were rejected or remained unverified, and promised that all remaining eligible women would be added. BJP sources said political opponents were organising protests to damage the new government.
Opposition Criticism
The Trinamool Congress asked why women were not receiving the money and said the BJP had campaigned before the elections as though all women would receive the benefit, but was now imposing conditions.
Handling the protests
Government and BJP Position
The government ordered block offices to establish facilitation centres so applicants could file claims and have them re-verified. Suvendu also announced a political rally with one lakh beneficiaries.
Opposition Criticism
The CPM described the denial of benefits to many women as the use of state machinery against economically disadvantaged people and warned that as many as 1.5 crore beneficiaries could be excluded.
Political responsibility
Government and BJP Position
Suvendu compared the programme with the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme and said the government was only 106 days old.
Opposition Criticism
Trinamool general secretary Kunal Ghosh said the government should first explain why women were not receiving the promised assistance.
- Scheme
- Annapurna Yojana
- Promised assistance
- ₹3,000 per eligible woman
- Applications received
- 1.80 crore
- Initially verified applicants
- 1.62 crore
- Identified eligible applicants
- 1.45 crore
- Beneficiaries paid by Thursday
- 1.37 crore
- Pending or rejected applications
- 17 lakh were rejected and 18 lakh awaited verification
- Planned rally
- One lakh Annapurna beneficiaries in Calcutta on September 17