Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering during the release of installment under the Annapurna Yojana in West Bengal via video conferencing on September 17, 2026. The event coincided with Vishwakarma Puja celebrations. The Prime Minister announced that the fourth installment of ₹3,000 is being successfully transferred to the bank accounts of approximately 1.5 crore women beneficiaries in West Bengal.
The Annapurna Yojana is designed to provide financial support to women for purchasing medicines, household necessities, or funding children's education. PM Modi emphasized that the guaranteed monthly deposit provides profound life support and ensures financial dignity for women, describing it as a crucial intervention to bolster female confidence. The scheme aims to alleviate financial anxieties regarding essential expenses, thereby increasing women's self-confidence.
The Prime Minister stated that the new government's primary benchmark is to improve women's Ease of Living, with work on the Annapurna Yojana commencing within days of the new government taking office. The administration is committed to absolute inclusivity, with rapid efforts underway to guarantee comprehensive coverage across the state to ensure that not a single eligible woman is deprived of the benefits.
The Annapurna Yojana is part of a comprehensive lifecycle approach to female empowerment that includes multiple prioritized interventions such as Matru Vandana Yojana for pregnant women, Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao movement, building school toilets, opening Sainik Schools for girls, providing Mudra loans, increasing maternity leave, delivering Ujjwala gas connections, Har Ghar Jal water connections, distributing Ayushman cards, and securing joint property rights under PM Awas Yojana.
PM Modi also announced that over 50 lakh newly identified poor families in the state will soon receive permanent houses under PM Awas Yojana, alongside the rollout of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. The Prime Minister linked regional progress to the national vision, expressing confidence that local women will accelerate the development journey toward a Viksit Bharat, stating that with the strength of a developed Bengal, the resolution of a developed India will become stronger.