लक्ष्मी भण्डार पश्चिम बंगाल 2026: आवेदन और पात्रता

Quick facts: ₹1,000/month (general women) or ₹1,200/month (SC/ST women) · age 25-60 · West Bengal domicile · apply at Duare Sarkar camps OR online at socialsecurity.wb.gov.in · ~2 crore beneficiaries.

Lakshmir Bhandar is West Bengal’s flagship women’s welfare scheme, launched in February 2021 and expanded in subsequent years. The scheme provides monthly cash support to women aged 25-60 in West Bengal — among the earliest state-level DBT-to-women schemes in India, inspiring similar programs in MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, and others. Over 2 crore WB women are now beneficiaries.

लाभ — Benefits

Category Monthly Annual
General (all castes) ₹1,000 ₹12,000
Scheduled Caste (SC) ₹1,200 ₹14,400
Scheduled Tribe (ST) ₹1,200 ₹14,400

Both amounts were increased in 2024 from ₹500/₹1,000 respectively to current levels.

  • Mode: DBT to Aadhaar-linked bank account
  • Frequency: monthly (usually 1st week)

पात्रता — Who Qualifies

Mandatory

  • West Bengal resident (domicile)
  • Female, aged 25 to 60 years
  • Aadhaar linked to bank account (Aadhaar-NPCI seeded)
  • Household not having a regular govt / PSU employee
  • Family not paying income tax

Priority

  • SC / ST women get the higher ₹1,200 amount
  • Widows / abandoned women are especially encouraged

Exclusions

  • Women receiving regular pension > scheme amount from another scheme
  • Women in permanent government employment
  • Temporary residents (non-domicile)

आवश्यक दस्तावेज़ — Documents Required

  • Aadhaar card (mandatory)
  • Bank passbook (in applicant’s name, Aadhaar-seeded)
  • Caste certificate (for SC/ST higher rate)
  • Voter ID card (WB-issued, strong proof of domicile)
  • Ration card (for family verification)
  • Recent photograph

आवेदन प्रक्रिया — How to Apply

Option 1: Duare Sarkar Camps (most common)

“Duare Sarkar” is the state government’s “government at your doorstep” program — periodic camps held in every ward/panchayat.

  1. Attend the nearest Duare Sarkar camp when announced (usually 2-3 times a year)
  2. Carry all documents
  3. Camp officer fills form on socialsecurity.wb.gov.in on your behalf
  4. Biometric verification
  5. Receive acknowledgment slip
  6. First payment starts in the next monthly cycle

Option 2: Block Development Office (BDO)

Year-round registration at your Block Development Office — walk in with documents.

Option 3: Online (self-registration)

  1. Open https://socialsecurity.wb.gov.in
  2. Click “Lakshmir Bhandar”
  3. Register with mobile + OTP
  4. Fill application + upload documents
  5. Track status online

Verification

  • BLO + panchayat secretary verify residency
  • State-level approval takes 30-60 days
  • Approved applications receive first payment in next cycle

स्थिति चेक — Status Check

  1. Open https://socialsecurity.wb.gov.in“Application Status”
  2. Enter Aadhaar / mobile + OTP
  3. See: – Approval status – Monthly payment history – Bank last 4 digits

Missing payments? Most common causes: – Aadhaar-NPCI bank seeding broken → visit bank – Account frozen / inoperative – Caste certificate not verified (for SC/ST rate)

हेल्पलाइन — Helpline

Service Number
WB Social Security Helpline 1800-345-0017
BDO office (block-level) varies
Duare Sarkar helpline 14545 (state)

FAQ — Common Questions

I’m 62 years old. Can I apply? No. Age range is strictly 25-60. For seniors above 60, apply to Taposi old-age pension or IGNOAPS instead.

I’m married but my husband works in another state. Am I eligible? Yes, as long as you’re ordinarily resident in West Bengal (voter ID + Aadhaar address). Your husband’s workplace doesn’t affect your eligibility.

I’m divorced/widowed — higher priority? Yes. Divorcees, widows, and abandoned women are especially encouraged to apply and typically processed faster.

Can I get Lakshmir Bhandar AND another monthly cash benefit? You cannot receive another cash-transfer scheme paying more than ₹1,000/month alongside Lakshmir Bhandar. Complementary non-cash schemes (PMAY, Ujjwala) are fine.

My husband is a retired government employee — eligible? Retired government employees drawing pension generally disqualify the household. Check with your BDO; pension below ₹10,000/month may be exempt in some cases.

What if I move out of West Bengal? Scheme eligibility is tied to domicile. If you shift permanently out of WB, your Lakshmir Bhandar is discontinued.


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Last verified: 20 April 2026. Official source: https://socialsecurity.wb.gov.in