No liquor shops near schools, fish-rice meals for Rs 5: CM Suvendu Adhikari’s key announcements in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday announced a series of welfare and regulatory measures in Kalyani, including a ban on liquor shops within one kilometre of educational institutions and temples, a monthly financial assistance scheme for women, and subsidised fish-rice meals across the state.

CM Adhikari said liquor shops would not be permitted within a one-kilometre radius of schools, colleges and temples. In another major announcement, he said the state government would begin issuing application forms from May 27 for the “Annapurna Yojana”, under which eligible women would receive Rs 3,000 per month as financial assistance. The scheme is expected to benefit lakhs of women across the state.

“Annapurna Yojana forms will be issued from the state secretariat from tomorrow. All Indians are eligible to receive benefits under the scheme,” he said while speaking to reporters after an administrative meeting at Kalyani in Nadia

CM Adhikari also announced the launch of subsidised canteens across Bengal where fish-rice meals would be provided for Rs 5. According to him, around 400 dedicated canteens would be set up under the initiative to provide affordable meals to people.

He said the West Bengal government would also establish a separate AYUSH department, removing it from the purview of the health department.

CM Adhikari reviews development projects across three districts
CM Adhikari on Tuesday held an administrative review meeting in Kalyani to assess the progress of development work in Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts.

The meeting was attended by several elected representatives, including Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. Her presence drew attention as she had stepped down from the post of president of the party’s Barasat organisational district on Sunday.

MLAs from Deganga, Swarupnagar and Haroa also took part in the programme.

According to an official, all MPs and MLAs from the three districts had been invited to attend the review meeting. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Ghosh Dastidar said the administration works for everyone and should remain accessible to all sections of people.

Officials said the discussions focused on the implementation of welfare schemes and ways to improve development work at the grassroots level. The meeting also reviewed the status of ongoing projects in the districts.