Prime Minister's Office
azadi ka amrit mahotsav

English rendering of PM’s remarks during the release of instalment under the Annapurna Yojana in West Bengal via video conferencing

Posted On: 17 SEP 2026 2:23PM by PIB Delhi

Namaskar.

My respectful greetings and regards to all mothers of Bengal!

On this special occasion, I feel immense happiness to be connected with you. I have always received great affection from the mothers and sisters of Bengal. Your trust and warmth are a great source of strength for me.

Today is also the sacred occasion of Vishwakarma Puja. I extend my heartfelt wishes to all of you on Vishwakarma Puja.

Friends,

At this auspicious time, a new tradition is being strengthened in Bengal. Today, through the Annapurna Yojana, new empowerment is being connected with the mothers and sisters of Bengal. I congratulate and send my best wishes to every sister who is benefitting from this scheme.

Friends,

In our homes, mothers and sisters carry many responsibilities. Amidst numerous small and big decisions, a woman takes care of the family in every way. And when she has less worry about essential expenses, her confidence increases even more. The Annapurna Yojana is such an important effort to strengthen the confidence of Bengal’s women. Every month, a fixed amount reaches the bank accounts of Bengal’s sisters - an amount for which they do not have to ask anyone. This is a great support in their lives.

Friends,

Today, the fourth installment of the Annapurna Yojana is reaching the accounts of nearly 15 million sisters. That means 3,000 rupees every month. For a mother, this could be the expense of her child’s education. For a sister, it could be support for medicine or essential household items.

Friends,

Our vision is that Bengal’s women should have the power to make decisions and the courage to move forward. Annapurna Yojana plays a big role in this. I extend heartfelt congratulations to all mothers and sisters who are beneficiaries of the Annapurna Yojana.

Friends,

On May 4th this year, Bengal chose a new path of transformation. And I know, in this transformation, the most important role has been played by the mothers and sisters of Bengal. You have seen many hardships in your lives. You have waited for many things. Therefore, the first test before our new government was to make the lives of Bengal’s women easier, to increase ease of living in their lives. That is why the guiding mantra we adopted was - Less talk, more work.

Friends,

The Annapurna Yojana began with this very thought. Within just a few days of forming the government, work started on this scheme. And today, money is directly reaching the bank accounts of such a large number of women. No cut money, no middlemen!

Our government’s goal is that not a single eligible woman should be deprived of the benefits of the Annapurna Yojana. Work is progressing rapidly for this too.

Friends,

Solving every problem connected with the life cycle of mothers, sisters, and daughters has been the highest priority of the BJP. To ensure nutritious food for the child during pregnancy, we launched the Matru Vandana Yojana, sending money directly to women’s bank accounts. To prevent daughters from being eliminated in the womb, we started mass movements like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. To ensure daughters do not drop out of school due to lack of toilets, we built millions of toilets. To continue their education, we offered high interest in the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. To allow daughters to enter Sainik Schools, we opened their doors. To help daughters start their own work, we launched the Mudra Yojana with collateral‑free loans. To ensure mothers could continue their jobs after childbirth, we increased maternity leave. To provide new earning opportunities in villages, we gave record support to self‑help groups. To free daughters from smoke in the kitchen, we gave Ujjwala gas connections. To free them from the struggle of fetching water, we launched the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal scheme. To free them from darkness, we gave free electricity connections under the Saubhagya scheme. To ensure daughters do not hide their illness due to lack of money, we gave them the strength of the Ayushman card. To give daughters access to banks, we opened millions of accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana. To give daughters rights over property, we ensured joint ownership in PM Awas houses.

Friends,

One of Bengal’s great pains has been that in the past 12 years, many central schemes did not reach here on time. Poor families suffered the most because of this. Now, under the BJP government, these stalled schemes are being advanced rapidly. For example, the PM Awas Yojana. After the BJP government was formed in Bengal, more than 5 million new poor families have been identified to receive permanent houses under PM Awas. The PM Vishwakarma Yojana has also been implemented here. Every pending scheme, every stuck project, is now gaining new speed in Bengal. And in this, the blessings of Bengal’s women and people are with the BJP. That is why I say with great confidence - Together we will build a new Bengal.

Friends,

The nation has taken a pledge for a developed India. I am confident that Bengal’s mothers and sisters will continue to give new momentum to this journey of development. With the strength of a developed Bengal, the pledge of a developed India will become even stronger.

Friends,

Your affection, your blessings, continuously inspire us to serve. Once again, I extend many congratulations to all of you on Annapurna Day. Heartfelt wishes for Vishwakarma Puja! Thank you!

******

MJPS/SS/VJ/ST


(Release ID: 2311304) Visitor Counter : 177