TMC’s finance minister Dilip Ghosh took to the podium in Kolkata to address growing discontent among recipients of the Bengal Annapurna Yojana. The welfare scheme, launched a few years ago, intends to support economically weak households through direct cash transfers.
During the protest, several beneficiaries voiced grievances about delayed payments and the uneven reach of the programme. They argued that the benefits were not reaching the intended families and that the distribution process was opaque.
Ghosh responded by pointing to the ‘charity culture’ that the party has cultivated, arguing that it has helped many families. He also urged the state machinery to review the implementation and promised corrective measures.
The incident has reignited discussions about the efficiency of social schemes in West Bengal and the need for greater transparency in their execution. Analysts note that such protests could influence public perception of the TMC’s welfare record ahead of upcoming elections.
