The West Bengal cabinet on Monday decided to discontinue assistance schemes that provided monthly stipends to imams, muezzins and purohits. The decision will come into effect from June this year. The schemes, introduced by the earlier Trinamool Congress government, offered financial support to religious leaders through the departments of Information and Cultural Affairs and Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education.

Women, Child and Social Welfare Minister Agnimitra Paul announced the decision after the second cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. “The cabinet has approved the discontinuation of schemes based on religious categorisation. A notification on this will be issued,” Paul said, indicating that the existing state budgetary allocations for the scheme could be scrapped.

She clarified that student scholarship schemes in the state would continue and would not be affected by the latest cabinet decision.

Earlier this year, in March, the Mamata Banerjee-led government had increased the honorarium for religious leaders by ₹500. Under that arrangement, imams of registered mosques in Bengal were receiving ₹3,000 every month, while muezzins and purohits were getting ₹2,000 each.

The move is being seen as part of the BJP government’s effort to fulfil its pre-poll promises after coming to power in the state. Along with ending the religious stipend schemes, the cabinet also approved the new ‘Annapurna’ scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to women. Under the scheme, eligible women will receive ₹3,000 every month from June 1.

Paul said beneficiaries who were already receiving support under the previous government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme would automatically be covered under the Annapurna Yojna. “The cabinet gave its in-principle nod to the 'Annapurna' scheme of ₹3,000 monthly assistance to women from June 1. Those who are currently receiving the assistance under the previous government's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be automatically entitled to the Annapurna Yojna. There is no need to reapply for it. Money will be sent through direct bank transfer,” Paul said.

The cabinet also granted in-principle approval for free travel for women in state-run buses. The BJP had highlighted women-focused welfare measures heavily during its election campaign in Bengal.

Another major decision taken during the meeting was related to the state’s Other Backward Classes list. Paul announced that the BJP government would cancel the existing OBC list in line with the 2024 judgment of the Calcutta High Court. The issue had become politically significant after the court raised concerns regarding the inclusion of several groups in the list.

The state cabinet also approved the constitution of the Seventh State Pay Commission for revising the salaries of government employees. The pay revision will not be limited to regular state government workers. According to Paul, employees working in statutory bodies, civic bodies, local bodies, education boards and state-run educational institutions will also be covered under the revised structure.

The announcement is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge during the Bengal election campaign that a new pay commission would be implemented within 45 days if the BJP formed the government in the state.

However, Paul confirmed that the issue of increased dearness allowance for state government employees was not discussed during Monday’s cabinet meeting. “The cabinet gave its in-principle nod to the 'Annapurna' scheme of ₹3,000 monthly assistance to women from June 1. Those who are currently receiving the assistance under the previous government's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme will be automatically entitled to the Annapurna Yojna. There is no need to reapply for it. Money will be sent through direct bank transfer,” she reiterated while addressing the media.

The latest cabinet decisions signal major policy changes under the new BJP government in West Bengal. The administration has focused on implementing election promises while also revisiting schemes introduced by the previous TMC government.