PM Modi Releases Fourth Annapurna Instalment for 1.5 Crore Women in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering in West Bengal via video conferencing on the occasion of the release of an instalment under the Annapurna Yojana, describing the scheme as a major boost for Nari Shakti in the state.

The Prime Minister said the fourth instalment of Rs 3,000 was reaching the bank accounts of about 1.5 crore women. He noted that the recurring assistance could help beneficiaries buy medicines, meet household needs or fund a child's education.

Extending Vishwakarma Puja greetings, Modi said the day marked the addition of new capabilities for the mothers and sisters of Bengal. He observed that when women have fewer worries about necessary expenses, their self-confidence rises, and that a fixed monthly deposit received without having to ask anyone supports their financial dignity.

Modi said the new government's first test was to make life easier for the women of Bengal and that work on the Annapurna Yojana began within days of it taking office. He highlighted direct bank transfers that bypass corrupt practices and said efforts were under way to ensure comprehensive coverage. "It is also the goal of our government that not a single eligible woman should be deprived of the benefits of the Annapurna Yojana," he said.

The Prime Minister pointed to a broader set of interventions for women across their life cycle, including the Matru Vandana Yojana, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, school toilets, Sainik Schools for girls, Mudra loans, longer maternity leave, Ujjwala gas connections, Har Ghar Jal, Ayushman cards and joint property rights under PM Awas. He said schemes that had stalled were now being taken forward rapidly.

Citing the PM Awas Yojana, he said more than 50 lakh newly identified poor families in the state would soon receive permanent houses, alongside the rollout of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. He credited the blessings of local women for the revival of pending projects and said, "We will all together build a new Bengal."

Linking regional progress to the national goal, Modi said, "With the strength of a Viksit Bengal, the resolution of a Viksit Bharat will become even stronger." He concluded by greeting citizens on Annapurna Diwas and thanking them for their affection and blessings.