Is Lakshmir Bhandar Money Going to Waste on Illegal Immigrants from Bangladesh?

Lakshmir Bhandar is one of West Bengal's biggest hits with women voters. Launched in 2021 by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government, it's a simple cash handout to help poor women manage daily life. Every month, it gives Rs 1,000 to women from general families and Rs 1,200 to those from Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST). You have to be between 25 and 60 years old, live in West Bengal, and not earn a regular salary above a certain limit. No income tax filers or government pensioners qualify. It's paid straight into bank accounts, and as of early 2025, it's reaching over 2.2 crore women – that's more than 20 million! The state spends around Rs 18,000-20,000 crore a year on it, and there's talk of hiking the amount in the 2025 budget. For many families, this extra cash buys rice, school fees, or medicine – it's a real lifeline in a state where poverty bites hard.

But here's the rub: media reports say some of this money is landing in the hands of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. These are folks who sneak across the porous 2,200 km border into West Bengal without papers, settle in border villages or Kolkata slums, and somehow get on the scheme's list. How? 

By faking Aadhaar cards, ration cards, or voter IDs with help from local agents or weak checks at enrolment camps. A March 2025 report highlighted how illegal Bangladeshis across India are tapping into government perks like free rations and cash schemes, often by enrolling kids in schools first to build fake residency proofs. In West Bengal, opposition leaders like Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) have screamed about it, claiming thousands of "ghuspaithiyas" (infiltrators) are siphoning off Lakshmir Bhandar funds meant for locals. Even the state government admitted in late 2024 that they're cracking down on "illegal accounts" – like duplicates or ones without proper KYC (know-your-customer) verification – which could include fraud by outsiders. January 2025 payments were delayed for some to weed these out.

No exact numbers for Lakshmir Bhandar misuse in 2025, but the big picture is worrying. Border districts like Murshidabad and Malda see heavy infiltration – BSF caught over 3,000 undocumented Bangladeshis trying to leave or enter in the first half of 2025 alone. Many have been here for years, blending in, getting jobs in farms or factories, and yes, signing up for schemes. A government advisory in Maharashtra (not WB, but similar issue) warned in October 2025 that illegal Bangladeshis are grabbing welfare benefits, urging blacklists for employers who hire them. In WB, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, started in November 2025, has already flushed out fake entries linked to Bangladeshi names, sparking panic and voluntary returns at the border. Critics say schemes like this are a magnet – why risk the border if you can get free cash?

So, is this a straight-up waste of Indian money on non-Indians? On one side, absolutely yes. This is taxpayer cash – collected from hardworking Indians via taxes and state budgets – meant to lift up poor Bengali women, not reward border-jumpers from another country. West Bengal's already cash-strapped; diverting even 1% of the Rs 20,000 crore pot to outsiders (say, if 2 lakh illegals qualify) means Rs 200 crore down the drain yearly. That's enough to build schools or hospitals. It also fuels resentment among locals, who feel jobs, housing, and now cash are being stolen. Worse, it might encourage more crossings – "Come to Bengal, get money!" – straining security and sparking communal tensions, especially with BJP pushing the "infiltrator" narrative ahead of 2026 polls. Courts have ruled fake docs don't make you a citizen, but until they're caught, the money flows.

Flip it around, though, and it's not black-and-white. Stopping every fraud without hassle is tough – you'd need ironclad ID checks at every Duare Sarkar camp (doorstep enrolment drives), but that could block genuine poor women who lack old papers. Many "illegal" folks have kids born here, speak Bengali, and contribute as cheap labour in bricks or textiles. Kicking them out mid-scheme feels harsh, and Bangladesh won't always take them back easily. Plus, the scheme's success (TMC's 2021 poll sweep) shows it's boosting women's power overall – fewer family fights over money, more girls in school. Waste? Maybe a leaky bucket, but emptying it entirely might spill more good than bad.