Kolkata: West Bengal is all set to roll out the Centre’s flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme from June 1. In another initiative aimed at women's welfare, the Suvendu Adhikari government will also be rolling out the landmark scheme aimed at free travel for women in government-run buses, on the same day.
Free Bus Rides For Women
The newly appointed BJP government has pitched the move as a major relief measure for families dealing with rising expenses. The initiative is aimed at easing the daily transport costs of working women, students and regular commuters who rely heavily on public buses.
Officials said the scheme is expected to help lakhs of women by making travel more affordable and improving access to workplaces, educational institutions and essential services. The state government has also assured that the introduction of the new benefit will not lead to the withdrawal of any existing welfare programme.
Ayushman Bharat Implementation
The state government will roll out the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme from June 1, marking the implementation of one of the Narendra Modi government’s flagship healthcare programmes in the state. The scheme provides financial coverage for medical treatment to eligible families and is expected to widen access to healthcare facilities.
The government clarified that the launch of Ayushman Bharat in Bengal will run alongside existing state welfare schemes without affecting any current benefits.
Annapurna Bhandar Gets Green Signal
The newly sworn-in BJP government has also given an in-principle nod to launch the “Annapurna Bhandar” scheme from June 1, fulfilling a key BJP poll promise made during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign.
Under the proposed programme, eligible women beneficiaries are expected to receive Rs 3,000 through direct benefit transfer. The BJP had projected the scheme as an alternative to the Trinamool Congress government’s “Laxmir Bhandar” initiative, under which women received monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500.
-
Horoscope for May 12, Is your luck changing with the blessings of Mars and Brispati Dev?
-
OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite Goes on Sale Today
-
5 Milwaukee Tools With Deep Discounts In May 2026
-
GM just laid off hundreds of IT workers to hire those with stronger AI skills
-
Rishabh Pant: Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know
