What are the main social welfare schemes run by the West Bengal government?

Major schemes include Khadya Sathi (food security), Jai Bangla and Manabik Pension (pensions), Lakshmir Bhandar and Kanyashree Prakalpa (women's welfare), Krishak Bandhu and Bangla Shasya Bima (farmer support), and Sabooj Sathi, Shikshashree, and Oasis Scholarship (student welfare).

How do I know which scheme I'm eligible for?

Eligibility depends on your category, resident status, income, age, occupation, or student status. Visit the specific scheme's page linked above for its full eligibility criteria, or ask at your nearest Duare Sarkar camp, which handles multiple schemes at once.

Do I need to pay to apply for any of these schemes?

No, applications for all West Bengal government welfare schemes are free. Be cautious of anyone asking for payment to 'guarantee' enrolment, as this is not how these schemes operate.

How are welfare scheme payments made?

Almost all recurring cash-based schemes use Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), paid directly into the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Are these schemes still active in 2026?

Most continue to operate, though a few, such as Lakshmir Bhandar and Banglar Bari, are undergoing administrative changes following the 2026 state election and change in government. Check each scheme's dedicated page for the latest confirmed status.

West Bengal Social Welfare Schemes 2026: Full List & Guide

The Government of West Bengal runs one of the largest networks of social welfare programmes among Indian states, covering food security, pension support, housing, women's welfare, farmer income support, and education. Most of these schemes share a few common design features: they're funded fully or largely by the state government, delivered mainly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into a beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked bank account, and are accessible through Duare Sarkar camps, Gram Panchayat/Block offices, or dedicated online portals.

This page brings together the state's major social welfare schemes in one place, organised by category, so you can quickly find the one relevant to your situation and jump to its detailed eligibility, benefit amount, and application guide. For comprehensive state initiative overviews, visit West Bengal government schemes.

How These Schemes Are Delivered

Duare Sarkar Outreach: Duare Sarkar ("Government at Your Doorstep") camps are periodically organised across the state, where residents can apply for multiple schemes at a single counter without visiting separate offices.
Local Administration Desks: Gram Panchayat, Block Development Officer (BDO), Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), and Municipal offices handle year-round applications, renewals, and grievance redressal for most schemes.
Dedicated Digital Portals: Dedicated online portals exist for the state's larger schemes (for example, Khadya Sathi, Jai Bangla Pension, and Bangla Shasya Bima each have their own portal), allowing status checks and, in many cases, direct online applications.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) is the standard payment mechanism across nearly all recurring cash-based schemes, meaning beneficiaries need an Aadhaar-linked bank account to receive payments.

Food & Basic Needs Schemes

Khadya Sathi Scheme: Provides rice and wheat at Rs. 2 per kilogram (and 100% free under state quotas) to ration card holders across West Bengal, covering an estimated 90% of the state's population through AAY, PHH, and RKSY card categories.
Samabyathi Prakalpa: A one-time Rs. 2,000 grant to help poor families cover cremation or burial expenses, typically disbursed in cash on the spot at the funeral ground.

Pension & Income Support Schemes

Jai Bangla Pension Scheme: West Bengal's umbrella pension platform, paying Rs. 1,000/month across around 11 sub-schemes covering old age, widowhood, disability, SC/ST status, and specific occupations.
Manabik Pension Scheme: Monthly pension for persons with disabilities, revised to Rs. 1,500/month from August 2026, run as part of the Jai Bangla umbrella.
Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme: Monthly income support for women heads of households; note this scheme is reportedly transitioning to a new programme, Annapurna Bhandar, from mid-2026, check the linked page for the latest confirmed status.

Browse all dedicated Pension Schemes for detailed eligibility rules.

Housing Schemes

Banglar Bari Prakalpa: Rural housing assistance for economically weaker families to build pucca houses, with reported assistance around Rs. 1.2–1.3 lakh per house.
Geetanjali Housing Scheme: Housing assistance for homeless and EWS families, covering both rural construction support and group housing for urban applicants without land.

Women & Girl Child Welfare Schemes

Kanyashree Prakalpa: Conditional cash transfer for unmarried girls, paying an annual K1 scholarship of Rs. 1,000 and a one-time K2 grant of Rs. 25,000 at age 18, to delay early marriage and support continued education.
Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme: See above; also listed here as it is West Bengal's flagship women-focused income support programme.

Explore our complete directory of Women Welfare Schemes for specialized gender empowerment initiatives.

Farmer Welfare Schemes

Krishak Bandhu Scheme: Annual financial assistance of up to Rs. 10,000 for cultivation, plus a Rs. 2 lakh death benefit for farming families, covering close to 79 lakh farmers.
Bangla Shasya Bima: Zero-premium crop insurance covering both Kharif and Rabi crops, with the entire premium borne by the state government on behalf of farmers.

Discover all Farmer Schemes operating across West Bengal.

Student & Scholarship Schemes

Sabooj Sathi Scheme: Free bicycles for students in Classes 9–12 at government and government-aided schools.
Shikshashree Scheme: Pre-matric scholarship for SC/ST students in Classes 5–8.
Oasis Scholarship: SC/ST/OBC scholarship covering Class 9 through postgraduate studies.
Utkarsh Bangla: Free, placement-linked vocational skill training for youth and school dropouts.

View all Student Schemes for complete educational aid listings.

Disability & Senior Citizen Support

Manabik Pension Scheme: Monthly pension for persons with 40% or higher disability.
Jai Bangla Pension Scheme: Covers old-age and widow pension categories for senior citizens alongside its other sub-schemes.

How to Apply for These Schemes

While each scheme has its own specific form and eligibility criteria, the general application routes across West Bengal's social welfare programmes fall into a few common patterns:

Duare Sarkar Camps: The fastest route for most residents, since multiple scheme applications can be submitted at one camp visit.
Gram Panchayat / BDO / Municipal Offices: Available year-round for applications, renewals, and correcting application errors.
Scheme-Specific Online Portals: Larger schemes like Khadya Sathi, Jai Bangla, and Bangla Shasya Bima have dedicated websites for registration and status tracking.
School or Institution-Based Enrolment: For education-linked schemes like Sabooj Sathi, Shikshashree, and Kanyashree, applications are typically routed through the student's own school or college rather than submitted independently.

Since eligibility criteria, income limits, and benefit amounts are updated periodically, and some schemes are currently undergoing administrative changes following the 2026 change in state government, it's always worth confirming the latest details on each scheme's dedicated page before applying.

State Departments Administering Welfare Initiatives

Social security programs in West Bengal are planned and executed through specialized administrative departments working in coordination with district administrations:

Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare: Oversees Lakshmir Bhandar, Kanyashree Prakalpa, Rupashree Prakalpa, and the Jai Bangla pension umbrella (including Manabik disability pension).
Department of Agriculture & Agricultural Marketing: Manages Krishak Bandhu income assistance and state crop insurance via Bangla Shasya Bima.
Department of Food and Supplies: Administers Khadya Sathi food grain distribution and e-ration card management via wbpds.gov.in.
Panchayat and Rural Development (P&RD) Department: Implements rural housing under Banglar Bari Prakalpa, rural road connectivity, and MGNREGA asset creation.
Backward Classes Welfare and Tribal Development Department: Manages OASIS pre-matric/post-matric scholarships, Shikshashree, and Medhashree stipends.

Statewide Grievance Redressal and Helpline Support

If you experience payment delays, application rejections, or document discrepancies while accessing state welfare benefits, utilize these official channels:

CMO Public Grievance Portal (Nabanna): Submit written or digital complaints directly to the Chief Minister's Office public helpline desk for expedited resolution.
Duare Sarkar Grievance Cells: Every seasonal Duare Sarkar camp features a dedicated Help Desk counter for logging status queries and resolving missing Aadhaar/bank account seeding issues.
Toll-Free Helpline Services: Contact the statewide welfare helpline at or visit your local Block Development Officer (BDO) for in-person administrative support.

Financial Literacy and Bank Account Seeding Mandates

To ensure seamless Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) credit across all social welfare schemes, beneficiaries must link their active bank accounts with Aadhaar and ensure National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) mapping at their bank branch. Single-operated savings accounts avoid payment rejections, guaranteeing uninterrupted monthly pension, scholarship, and cash incentive credits.