The Government of West Bengal launched the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme in August 2021. This scheme is primarily aimed at empowering women in West Bengal. Under this scheme, women are provided with direct financial support. It mainly focuses on household women of the state from economically weaker sections. This scheme is launched to address economic disparities and make women financially independent.
Under this scheme women who are eligible will receive financial assistance monthly. Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme has two categories first, the general category, where beneficiaries are entitled to Rs. 1000 per month, and second, the SC/ST category where eligible women will receive Rs. 1200 per month. This scheme is launched mainly to help women meet their daily needs, reduce their dependence on males, and improve their quality of living.
Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme targets more than 1.6 crore women in the state. The funds are directly transferred to their bank accounts to ensure transparency and accessibility. This scheme is initiated by the State Board of West Bengal to improve social security and promote gender equality by improving the financial condition of women in the state. It is a significant step in promoting women’s empowerment and boosting their involvement in economic activities. This scheme’s main purpose is to promote gender-inclusive growth in West Bengal.
Highlights of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme
| Scheme Name | West Bengal Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme |
| Scheme Launched by | Government of West Bengal State |
| Objective | To provide Financial Support |
| Beneficiary | Female Heads of Household |
| Year | 2024 |
| Application Process | Online/ Offline |
| For General Category | Rs. 1000 per month |
| For SC/ ST Category | Rs. 1200 per month |
Eligibility Criteria of Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme
Any woman who wants to apply under the scheme must meet the following criteria:
- Eligibility: Women must be permanent residents of the state, West Bengal.
- Age: Their age must be between 25 to 60 years.
- Scheme: Any women who want to apply under this scheme must already be enrolled under the Swasthya Sathi health scheme.
- Not be: Women should not be permanent government employees or retired from any government posts for central or state, they should not work in Government Undertaking, Statutory Bodies, Municipalities, Panchayat, Government-aided Educational Institutions, or any other local bodies from where she is receiving a regular salary or pension.
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Objectives of the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme
The Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme mainly focused on giving women financial assistance and promoting gender equality. Some of the main objectives of the scheme are:
>Financial Assistance to Women:
This scheme provides women financial independence by giving financial assistance to women who are eligible (household). The government gives money to women to meet their basic needs without depending on males.
>Gender Equality:
This scheme focuses on promoting gender equality. By giving a consistent source of income to women, the government wants to reduce gender-based financial disparities and also enhance the role of women in the economy by giving them an opportunity to make decisions within their household and communities.
>Supporting Weaker Section of Society:
This scheme focuses on the General, SC, and ST categories of economically weaker women. Its main aim is to uplift their financial status and improve their way of living.
>Social Security:
By giving women in households with lower incomes a consistent monthly income, the scheme intends to improve West Bengal’s social security system and reduce their vulnerabilities and problems.
>Boost Participation in the Economy:
The scheme encourages women to take part in local economic activities by giving them better financial control, which promotes community development and overall growth in the economy.
Also Read: Objectives of Unified Pension Scheme | Objectives of PM Internship Scheme
Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme Benefits
Here are some of the key benefits the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme offers:
>Financial Support:
Women who are in households are eligible to receive financial assistance from the government. This scheme helps them to meet their daily needs. This also reduces the financial dependency on other family members. General category women receive Rs 1000 per month and women who are in the SC/ST category receive Rs 1200 per month.
>Independence:
Under this scheme, women are given financial assistance to help them have control over household expenses and make their personal choices. It also encourages women to participate in decision-making of the household. The main objective of this scheme is to promote gender equality.
>Economic Impact:
Lakshmir Bhandar scheme covers more than 1.6 crore women in the state. This scheme has the power to promote local economies as women can spend money without dependency on others, they can also spend money on their health, education, and other services.
>Transparency:
The funds under this scheme are directly transferred through the bank to their respective bank accounts. This helps to make the transfer of funds more efficient and transparent and also reduces the risk of delays and corruption. Under this scheme financial support is easily accessible to the women of rural as well as in remote areas.
>Social Security:
It improves women’s overall well-being by offering them an extra layer of social security, particularly in areas that are poor or economically underdeveloped.
Also Read: MBOCWW Board Benefits | Navasakam Beneficiary Management Online Benefits
How to Apply for Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme?
Eligible women who want to apply under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme can follow these steps:
>Eligibility:
For the general category women must be from economically weaker households and for the SC/ST category women must be from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Women who want the benefit of this scheme must be the head of the household.
>Application:
To apply under this scheme you can visit the official website of the West Bengal government or the portal of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. You can also apply through the Swasthya Sathi Scheme Portal or the Maa Manasha portal.
>Documents:
Documents required for the scheme are-
- Aadhar card for identification
- Voter ID or any other identity proof that is issued by the government
- Caste certificate if you belong to the SC/ST category
- Income certificate to prove your household’s financial condition
- Bank account details to ensure direct transfer of funds
>Application Process:
Fill out the application form on the portal with all the necessary details. Then upload the required documents and then submit the application.
>Offline Application:
You can also apply for the scheme offline. If you do not have access to the internet then you can apply through gram panchayat, municipality, or from block office. The officers of these offices will assist you with the application process.
>Approval:
After submitting all the documents the authority will verify the document and eligibility. Once your document is verified the fund will be directly transferred to the registered bank account.
Lakshmir Bhandar Helpline Number:
If you have any questions related to the scheme you can contact them at their helpline number or inquire about your queries through email.
- Contact number: 033-22143526
- Email: duaresarkarteam@gmail.com
Conclusion
A transformative initiative started by the West Bengal government to promote the financial empowerment of women named the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme. This scheme targets economic disparities and seeks to improve the quality of life for women, mainly those who are from vulnerable groups, by providing direct financial assistance to them. This scheme has a dual benefit structure – Rs. 1000 for the general category and Rs. 1200 for SC/ST households – also ensures that financial help reaches those who are in most need, encouraging greater economic independence and social security.
In addition, the direct bank transfer system makes sure about transparency and accessibility for beneficiaries. With almost above 1.6 crore women set to benefit, the scheme is a main step toward gender equality and women’s empowerment in the state. It helps women obtain more control and power over their finances, the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme brings broader social and economic development, making it a major key element of West Bengal’s welfare programs.
FAQs for Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme
1) What are the eligibility criteria for the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme?
Under this scheme women from weaker sections are given financial assistance to support their day to day expenditure. The eligibility criteria include women who are household, women from economically weaker sections and additional support to SC/ST womens. West Bengal’s main aim is to make women head of household.
2) Under Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme what is the amount provided?
Women from the general category receive Rs 1000 per month and SC/ST women receive Rs 1200 per month.
3) How can a woman apply for the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme?
Eligible women can apply through the official portal of West Bengal or can also submit it offline at local Government offices like Municipalities, Gram Panchayat, or Block Offices. The application must include a woman’s Adhar card, bank account details, and cast certificates if applicable.
4) How is the financial assistance transferred?
To ensure transparency and easy access to the fund this financial assistance is directly transferred to the bank account of the women eligible and have submitted their application form.
5) What are the documents you Require to Apply?
Aadhar card, voter ID, bank account details, caste certificate (for the women of SC/ST category), and income certificate if applied must be submitted along with the application form. After the verification of these details further process is continued.
