West Bengal Approves 7th Pay Commission, ₹3,000 Monthly Aid for Women and Free Bus Travel
The newly formed government in West Bengal has announced a series of major welfare and employee-focused decisions that are expected to impact millions of residents across the state. In a significant cabinet meeting held on Monday, the administration led by Suvendu Adhikari approved the formation of the 7th State Pay Commission for government employees, while also giving the green signal to a new financial assistance scheme for women and free travel in government-run buses.
The decisions are being viewed as one of the biggest policy announcements by the new state government since assuming office. The move is likely to benefit government workers, pensioners, women beneficiaries, and daily commuters throughout the state.
7th State Pay Commission Gets ApprovalOne of the most important announcements from the cabinet meeting was the approval for the formation of the 7th State Pay Commission. The commission will review salary structures, allowances, pensions, and other financial benefits for state government employees, workers in statutory bodies, and staff employed in educational institutions.
The decision has generated fresh hope among lakhs of employees and pensioners who have been demanding better pay parity and higher financial benefits for several years. Employee organizations in the state have repeatedly urged the government to bridge the gap between salaries and allowances received by state employees and those enjoyed by central government staff.
For a long time, government workers in West Bengal have also been raising concerns regarding Dearness Allowance (DA).
They have argued that the DA received by state employees remains significantly lower than the benefits provided by the Centre.The state government currently offers 22 percent Dearness Allowance to its employees. Earlier this year, an additional four percentage point hike in DA was announced during the interim budget presentation. However, employee unions continue to press for a more substantial increase.
The formation of the 7th Pay Commission is expected to initiate detailed discussions on salary revisions, pension benefits, and allowance restructuring.
Before the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had indicated that several important matters concerning government employees and pensioners would be discussed. Among the key topics were Dearness Allowance issues and the roadmap for implementing recommendations linked to the 7th Pay Commission.
The discussions come at a time when inflation and rising living costs have become major concerns for salaried households. Employee organizations believe that revised pay structures and improved allowances are necessary to help workers cope with increasing expenses.
The state government has not yet officially disclosed the timeline for the implementation of revised pay recommendations. However, the approval of the commission itself is being seen as a major administrative step.
In another major welfare announcement, the Bengal cabinet approved the launch of the ‘Annapurna’ scheme, which will begin from June 1. Under this initiative, eligible women in the state will receive direct financial assistance of ₹3,000 every month in their bank accounts.
The scheme is aimed at strengthening financial support for women and improving household stability, particularly for economically weaker families.
The new initiative is expected to replace the earlier ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme that was launched under the previous administration led by the All India Trinamool Congress government.
The introduction of the Annapurna scheme is likely to become one of the biggest social welfare measures announced by the new government, especially among women voters and low-income households.
The cabinet has also approved free travel for women in government-operated buses across the state from June 1. The move is expected to provide significant relief to daily commuters, especially working women, students, and those from lower-income groups.
Officials believe the initiative could reduce transportation expenses for families while also encouraging greater mobility and access to employment and education opportunities for women.
The scheme is likely to benefit thousands of female passengers who depend on public transport for daily travel across urban and rural regions of West Bengal.
Religious Welfare Schemes to Be DiscontinuedAlongside the welfare announcements, the state government also decided to discontinue certain welfare schemes that were reportedly introduced on religious grounds. According to cabinet decisions, such schemes will be stopped from next month onward.
The move signals a policy shift by the new administration as it restructures state welfare programs and reallocates resources toward broader social and employee-focused initiatives.
With decisions related to the 7th Pay Commission, women-centric financial assistance, and free transport benefits, the new government has attempted to address both administrative and public welfare priorities simultaneously. The coming months are expected to reveal more details regarding implementation timelines, beneficiary eligibility, and the financial impact of these announcements on the state economy.