BJP cuts West Bengal women's welfare benefits by half in first hundred days

The Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government in West Bengal has cut cash incentives to women by nearly half while pursuing selective welfare targeting, marking a sharp departure from its predecessor's universal approach in its first 100 days.

Beneficiaries receiving monthly cash incentives have dropped from 2.20 crore under Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress government to 1.19 crore under the BJP, despite campaign promises to double the amount from ₹1,500 to ₹3,000 for all women. The government now insists only "the deserving" should receive benefits.

Industrial promises echo past claims

The Adhikari government announced a single-window clearance for investments over ₹100 crore and claims to have secured proposals worth ₹54,000 crore, with the Chief Minister laying foundation stones for multiple industrial units. However, scrutiny reveals that the same industrial houses made similar promises to the previous Trinamool government at identical sites. Real investment remains uncertain in a state that has lost ground to southern and western counterparts over decades.

Arrests and 'Trinamoolification'

Hundreds of local Trinamool leaders, including former MLAs and ministers, have been arrested and subjected to mob violence and egg attacks in the past three months. The prevailing sentiment suggests Trinamool leaders can avoid arrest and public humiliation by aligning with the BJP.

This dynamic has prompted the BJP's own state leadership to warn of "Trinamoolification of the BJP," as a majority of Trinamool's Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs have defected and now hold frequent meetings with Adhikari. The party appears to be embracing the people and policies it campaigned against.

Policing and social engineering

While crimes against women and political murders continue, police have adopted a more proactive stance, including "encounters" uncommon under the previous regime. The government is restricting access to food distribution, welfare schemes and caste certificates by linking them to a special intensive revision of electoral rolls. It has also announced plans to roll out a Uniform Civil Code, cracked down on loudspeakers at religious sites including mosques, and started surveying madrasahs.

Adhikari, who appeared alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi in full-page advertisements marking the 100-day milestone on August 17, has stated he wants a 90% public approval rating after one year. The Chief Minister has drawn inspiration from Uttar Pradesh on encounters and bulldozer use.

Source: The Hindu