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West Bengal Tables Rs 4.06 Lakh Crore Interim Budget With Welfare Boosts Before Elections

State leaders cast the vote-on-account as fiscally managed policy focused on women, youth, frontline workers, facing opposition claims of pre-election dole politics.

Overview

  • Monthly assistance under Lakshmir Bhandar rises by Rs 500 to Rs 1,700 for SC/ST women and Rs 1,500 for others from February, supported by a Rs 15,000 crore allocation.
  • A new Banglar Yuva Sathi stipend will provide Rs 1,500 per month to unemployed residents aged 21–40 until they secure jobs or for up to five years.
  • ASHA and Anganwadi workers get a Rs 1,000 monthly hike, 180 days of maternity leave starting in April, and a Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for deaths before 60; para-teachers and allied staff see a Rs 1,000 raise from April.
  • Dearness allowance for state employees increases by 4%, and Rs 2,000 crore is earmarked for the Mahatmasree 100-day rural employment scheme.
  • During the Assembly debate, Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya defended the plan as pro-people, said Yuvasree will continue alongside Yuvasathi, accused the Centre of withholding dues, and moved a Rs 16,994 crore supplementary grant as BJP leaders condemned the package as an election leaflet and flagged deficit and borrowing levels.