Thousands Of Bengal Women Apply In Mamata Banerjee's Financial Aid Scheme

The eligibility criteria for Lakshmir Bhandar are between 25 and 60 years old, unemployed and not a recipient of any pension

Women in West Bengal are making a beeline to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's latest gender specific cash transfer welcome scheme Lakshmir Bhandar. At stake is Rs 1,000 per month for women of Scheduled Castes and Tribes and Rs 500 for the rest. The forms for enrolling in the scheme began to be distributed since Monday. In the first three days, 30 lakh women signed up, even at the cost of getting injured in the rush for the forms, at Malda, Birbhum, North 24 Parganas and other districts. Such was the rush for forms to sign up for the scheme, Ms Banerjee had to give assurances that the last date for enrolment, September 15, will be extended if needed and women should not panic about signing up. "Lakshmir Bhandar is about a woman's right, a symbol of our respect for them. That's why there is a huge demand. 30 lakh applications in three days already," Ms Banerjee said.