The West Bengal government has introduced stricter guidelines for its popular ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme. While the monthly assistance amounts have been increased, beneficiaries must now adhere to specific technical requirements to ensure uninterrupted payments. Failure to comply may lead to the suspension of funds from this month onwards.

Key New Requirements:

• Aadhaar Linking: It is now mandatory to link your bank account with your Aadhaar card. Lack of seeding will result in automatic payment blockage.
• Single Bank Account: Payments will no longer be credited to joint accounts. Beneficiaries must possess an individual bank account in their own name.
• Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be between 25 and 60 years of age. Once they turn 60, they must transition to the Old-Age Pension scheme.
• Govt Employment: Families with members currently in government service or receiving pensions are ineligible for the scheme.

The administration has urged beneficiaries to rectify any discrepancies in their documents or banking details at their bank branches or the nearest government camp immediately to avoid cancellation of their benefits.