West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said no liquor shops will be allowed within 1 km of educational institutes and temples.
Within three weeks of assuming power as the first Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Chief Minister of the State, Mr. Adhikari rolled out several administrative changes.
He announced that work on the Annapurna Bhandar scheme will start from Wednesday (May 27).
He said the government will prioritise the health sector, pre-monsoon work, converting Swastha Saathi to Ayushman Bharat scheme, and converting the Lakshimr Bhandar scheme benefits to the Annapurna Bhandar scheme.
“The Maa Canteen that we have, which is almost 400, two times a week we will offer fish to people for ₹5,” Mr. Adhikari said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) said no liquor shops will be allowed within 1 km of educational institutes and temples. He also announced that ‘maach-bhaat’ (fish and rice) will be available in 400 canteens across the State for ₹5.
Within three weeks of assuming power as the first Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Chief Minister of the State, Mr. Adhikari rolled out several administrative changes. He announced that work on the Annapurna Bhandar scheme will start from Wednesday (May 27). Under this scheme, women in the State will receive a direct cash-transfer benefit of ₹3,000 every month, a poll promise of the BJP.
The decisions were taken at an administrative review meeting in Nadia district’s Kalyani area. The high-level meeting, which went on for almost two hours, brought together administrative officials from Nadia, North 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts.
The meeting decided that no alcohol shops in West Bengal will be open within a 1 km radius of schools, colleges, and temples. Mr. Adhikari said the decision was taken to protect the educational and religious environment. He said the government will prioritise the health sector, pre-monsoon work, converting Swastha Saathi to Ayushman Bharat scheme, and converting the Lakshimr Bhandar scheme benefits to the Annapurna Bhandar scheme.
“I and the Minister concerned, Agnimitra Paul, will publish a form tomorrow (May 27) from Nabanna (State Secretariat), which you will need to fill up. The faster you fill up the forms and enroll, the more benefits we can offer,” Mr. Adhikari said.
Forms for Annapurna Bhandar will be available both online and offline and Mr. Adhikari said government officials and MLAs will take active part in helping maximum women get the benefits. He added that both Swastha Saathi and Lakshmir Bhandar schemes of the previous government will continue till the new government rolls out the new schemes completely.
“Only Indians will get this benefit. No Bangladeshi coming from outside will get these benefits,” he said, adding that from June 1, women will get free rides in State-run buses, and the government will make cards for the women to help bring transparency into the system.
“The Maa Canteen that we have, which is almost 400, two times a week we will offer fish to people for ₹5,” Mr. Adhikari said.
The Maa Canteen, Swastha Saathi, and Lakshmir Bhandar were three schemes run by the previous Trinamool Congress government. Uncertainty surrounded the schemes after the Trinamool was ousted in the polls. These will now be restored under different banners and in accordance with the Central government’s parallel schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat which has been functional across India.
