Old age pension: ₹1,000 to ₹2,000! Bengal BJP govt doubles pensions, orders strict helmet crackdown

The BJP government in West Bengal has announced a sharp increase in social security pensions, raising old-age, widow and disability allowances from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per month from June.

The decision, which fulfills a key election promise made by the ruling party, was taken by the Women, Child and Social Welfare Department headed by minister Agnimitra Paul. Officials said beneficiaries will begin receiving the revised amount directly in their bank accounts from next month.

The move comes days after the state government announced the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ scheme and is being seen as part of a broader push to strengthen social welfare coverage following the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Under the previous administration led by Mamata Banerjee, women received benefits through the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme, under which the monthly amount was later increased before elections. However, questions had remained over whether women above the age of 60 would continue receiving the enhanced benefits under the old-age pension category.

The new government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has now clarified that beneficiaries under old-age, widow and disability pension schemes will receive Rs 2,000 per month.

During the election campaign, BJP leaders had argued that the earlier pension amount was insufficient to meet rising living costs and promised to increase assistance if voted to power.

In a separate move, the state administration has also ordered stricter enforcement of helmet rules for two-wheeler riders across West Bengal.

According to directives issued by the Additional Director General (Law and Order), all police commissioners outside Kolkata, district police superintendents and railway police authorities have been instructed to conduct special enforcement drives to ensure mandatory helmet use.

Traffic departments and local police stations have been asked to carry out joint operations, while senior traffic officials will monitor compliance through regular reports.