Annapurna Bhandar protests reach the doorsteps of BJP leaders in West Bengal
Protests have broken out across West Bengal as women express frustration over the denial of benefits under the Annapurna Bhandar scheme. Demonstrators have targeted BJP leaders, citing a significant drop in the number of beneficiaries compared to previous government figures.
Why it matters
This highlights the political volatility surrounding social welfare schemes and the impact of policy changes on the electorate in West Bengal.
Protests have erupted in different corners of West Bengal over the denial of Annapurna Bhandar scheme benefits to women, with agitators taking their grievances directly to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and Ministers.
On Friday (August 21, 2026), State Minister Agnimitra Paul had to face the anger of women who were protesting against delayed Annapurna Yojana payments, forcing her to leave an administrative meeting at the district magistrate’s office in Midnapore and hear their grievances. Earlier this week, protesters also reached the residence of Minister of Women and Child Development Malati Rava Roy in the State’s Cooch Behar district.
At Birati in North 24-Parganas, protesters blocked railway tracks, while at Falakata in Alipurduar district, women blocked National Highway-31. Middle-aged women have also held demonstrations outside Block Development Offices (BDOs) across several districts, including Paschim Medinipur, North 24-Parganas, Bardhaman Purba, Bardhaman Paschim, Hooghly, Bankura, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar.
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