Modi declares cut-money culture eliminated in Bengal through direct cash transfers

No culture of cut-money in Bengal anymore: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the fourth instalment of the Annapurna Yojana cash transfer scheme to around 1.5 crore women beneficiaries in West Bengal, declaring that the State no longer has a culture of "cut-money" because funds are now transferred directly into women's bank accounts without intermediaries.

Mr. Modi made the assertion in a virtual address, stating: "The money is directly transferred in the bank accounts of the women, without any intermediary. Now there is no cut-money in West Bengal".

Direct transfers replace commission system

Cut-money refers to commission that local politicians charged to help citizens avail benefits of government schemes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership, including Mr. Modi, had promised to stop this corruption during the Assembly election campaign in the State, which the party won.

The cash transfer scheme provides ₹3,000 to eligible women in West Bengal. Speaking about the BJP government in West Bengal, Mr. Modi said the government believes in "speaking less and working more".

Birthday address focuses on women's empowerment

Addressing the event on his 76th birthday, the Prime Minister said no eligible women will be deprived of the benefits of Annapurna Yojana in West Bengal. "Within a few days of forming our government in Bengal, work began on the Annapurna Yojana. Today, many women receive financial assistance directly into their bank accounts," he said in the virtual address.

"Our government aims to ensure that not a single eligible woman is deprived of the benefits of Annapurna Yojana," Mr. Modi added.

He described the Annapurna Yojana as an important effort to strengthen the confidence of Bengal's women, adding that he believes the women of the State should have both the power to make decisions and the courage to move forward.

Scheme replaces Trinamool's Lakshmir Bhandar

Annapurna Yojana was promised by the BJP during the campaign for the West Bengal Assembly polls. The promise was meant to counter the Trinamool Congress government's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, under which over 2.2 crore women were getting ₹1,500 per month.

After coming to power in May 2026, the BJP government started verification of beneficiaries, which was criticised by the opposition as a diversion from what the BJP had promised. The Lakshmir Bhandar was a universal scheme, whereas Annapurna Bhandar has an eligibility criterion.

There have been some protests with women claiming that they are being denied benefits of the scheme despite being eligible.

Central schemes and housing promise

The Prime Minister said the people of Bengal have been deprived of the benefits of many central schemes for a long time. "The BJP is taking forward all the stalled schemes after coming to power," Mr. Modi said.

He added that more than 50 lakh families will be identified and given pucca houses. "We will all build a new Bengal together," he concluded.

Source: The Hindu