Kolkata: West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari has announced a fresh set of welfare initiatives and administrative decisions in West Bengal, including the launch of the Annapurna Yojana scheme, subsidised fish-rice meals and new restrictions on liquor shops near educational institutions and religious places.

Speaking to reporters after an administrative meeting in Kalyani in Nadia district, Adhikari said forms for the Annapurna Yojana would begin to be issued from May 27.

Under the scheme, women beneficiaries will receive ₹3,000 per month.

“Annapurna Yojana forms will be issued from the state secretariat from tomorrow. All Indians are eligible to receive benefits under the scheme,” Adhikari said.

₹5 fish-rice meal scheme planned across 400 canteens

The Chief Minister also announced plans to introduce fish and rice meals priced at ₹5 through around 400 dedicated canteens across the state.

According to reports, the meals will be served twice a week as part of the government’s welfare initiatives aimed at providing affordable food options to the public.

New liquor shop restrictions announced

Adhikari further said liquor outlets would not be permitted within a one-kilometre radius of schools, colleges and places of worship.

The move is part of a broader set of regulatory measures introduced by the new BJP-led government in the state.

Separate AYUSH department to be established

The West Bengal government will also establish a separate AYUSH department by delinking it from the state health department, Adhikari said during the meeting.

The announcement forms part of a wider administrative restructuring being initiated by the state government following the change in power after the 2026 Assembly elections.

BJP formed government after ending Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule

Adhikari became Chief Minister on May 9 after the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a landslide victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The BJP’s victory brought an end to nearly 15 years of rule by Mamata Banerjee and the All India Trinamool Congress in the state.

Since taking oath, Adhikari has announced a series of decisions and policy measures across multiple sectors.

Crackdown on illegal immigrants

Last week, the Chief Minister directed all district magistrates in the state to establish holding centres for apprehended illegal immigrants ahead of their deportation.

The move follows the BJP’s electoral promise to “detect, delete and deport” illegal immigrants.

An order issued by the Foreigners’ Branch and SAARC Visa Section of the state home department, headed by Adhikari, stated that the holding centres were being established following a May 2025 directive from the Union home ministry.

The directive came days after Adhikari instructed state police to intensify action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and hand over detained individuals to the Border Security Force for deportation.

New recruitment policy to curb irregularities

The Chief Minister also announced that the state government would introduce a new recruitment policy during the next budget session in an effort to prevent irregularities in public sector appointments.

“The state government will launch a fresh recruitment policy in the next budget session. We shall introduce bills in the next Assembly to support the new policy,” Adhikari said at an event in Kolkata on May 23.

Probe ordered into 2021 post-poll violence

Adhikari has also directed police stations across West Bengal to investigate incidents linked to the 2021 post-poll violence.

He said First Information Reports must be registered in every case involving murder or assault that had not previously been investigated.

“Let the families of those who died or were injured in political violence over the last five years file complaints with evidence. If they do not have evidence, then the police will investigate and lodge FIRs,” he said.

Describing the 2021 Assembly election period in West Bengal as a “black chapter”, Adhikari alleged that political workers had been attacked and killed during the violence.

“As many as 12,500 FIRs have been lodged. If the accused are found guilty, we will put them in jail,” he added.