Suvendu's Big Moves: Free Bus Rides To Healthcare Middlemen Crackdown | NewsX Deepdive

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]in Bengal where women get stronger financial support, families access quality health care without breaking the bank, students from poor homes chase dreams on merit, and governance feels responsive, not distant.

[00:00:13]That's the vision Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has been pushing since taking charge in May 2026. After years of political churn, his BJP government hit the ground running with a mix of new welfare schemes, central partnerships, and reforms aimed at transparency and inclusion. These aren't just poll promises. They are early moves from the Sankalp Patra manifesto rebranded for execution.

[00:00:39]Hello and welcome to Deep Dive by News X. I'm Megha Sharma. In this deep dive, we'll unpack the key schemes that have been launched by the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

[00:00:51]And from cash transfers and free rides to health coverage and education support, we'll see how they aim to fix past gaps, who benefits, and what challenges lie ahead.

[00:01:02]First up, the flagship Annapurna Yojana, also called Annapurna Bhandar, launched to roll out from 1st of June 2026. It promises 3,000 rupees per month to eligible women, doubling the previous Lakshmir Bhandar, which is 1,500 to 1,700 rupees.

[00:01:21]The government is cleaning up the beneficiary list first. The Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari flagged around 30 lakh entries as ineligible linked to voter list deletions, incomplete CAA processes, or SIUR issues, aiming for tighter targeting so funds reach genuine citizens. Forms started distributing from late May with a focus on transparency via direct benefit transfer. Listen in.

[00:01:49]>> Uh Janinge Itimadhye Amader Bharatiya Janata Party Sankalp >> And why does this matter? Now, in a state where many households rely on women's income for daily needs, this extra support can mean better nutrition, children's education, or small savings.

[00:02:37]It's paired with another big women-centric move, a free bus travel for women on state-run buses. No more worrying about daily commute costs for work, markets, or hospitals. These fulfill core Sankalp Patra pledges on women's financial and mobility independence. Critics call it competitive welfareism, but supporters see it as a practical relief in a high-cost environment. Health is another priority. West Bengal is now fully embracing Ayushman Bharat. The center sanctioned over 2,100 crore rupees. The state has received a first tranche. Cards are now rolling out from July 2026, aiming to cover millions, including transitioning users from the previous Swasthya Vibhag Department for Traditional Medicine, Ayurved, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy focusing on wellness along with allopathy. Affordable generic medicines via schemes like Amrit Pharmacies add another layer.

[00:03:34]Picture a Sundarbans farmer getting timely cancer screening or a Kolkata worker accessing quality surgery without debt.

[00:03:43]Coordination with the center unlocked funds stalled earlier. Challenges include infrastructure gaps and enrollment drives, but momentum is now building. Education gets a reboot as well with the revival of the Vivekananda meritorious scholarship Yojana. This is caste and religion neutral focused purely on merit and economic weakness.

[00:04:03]Funds redirected from discontinued religion-based stipends now support meritorious students. The government also aligns the broader education system with the national education policy, smart classrooms, depoliticization, and better infrastructure promised. It signals a shift public money for empowering through learning, not division. For a bright student in Malda or Purulia whose family struggles, this could mean textbooks, fees, or higher studies support, building human capital for a Sonar Bangla.

[00:04:34]Practical relief extends to the stomach and the streets. Around 400 state-run canteens now offer five rupee fish and rice meals, which are nutritious, affordable staples for workers, students, and the elderly. It's a low-cost way to fight hunger and support local produce. Governance innovation includes Swachha app, report garbage, drainage, or streetlights with a geotagged photo. No sign-up needed.

[00:05:02]Officials promise a 2-hour response with before and after proof. It ties into the Swachh Bharat and new central water mission funds.

[00:05:11]Other moves include stricter liquor rules, border land transfer to BSF for fencing, implementing Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, raising government job age limits, and pursuing central schemes like Prime Minister Vishwakarma, Ujjwala, and many others. Ending cut money and syndicate raj is a repeated theme aiming for cleaner project execution. Suvendu Adhikari's early schemes blend continuity, correction, and new momentum. Annapurna for women, Ayushman for health, Vivekananda for talent, cheap meals for daily ease, these paint a picture of inclusive development focused governance. Success depends on the execution, leak proof delivery, job creation beyond doles, industrial revival, and law and order gains to attract investment. Bengal's challenges are debt, infrastructure gaps, and migration are real, but unlocked central funds and a double engine provide tailwinds. From the Himalayas foothills to the Bay of Bengal, these schemes signal a bet on people's potential over political patronage. Will they transform the state? The next few years will tell, but the direction is set, welfare with accountability, development with dignity. Let's open up this conversation with Gargi Nandi. She's a political analyst. Gargi Nandi Roy, thank you very much for joining us and speaking to us.

[00:06:33]And my first question, of course, with a flurry of these schemes and initiatives that have been rolled out, they are to be rolled out 1st June onwards, which is today. Uh what is it that can be anticipated? How soon can we see results on the ground?

[00:06:49]>> Yes, thank you for inviting. May I see, I think obviously the BJP and Subhendu Adhikari has a huge challenge in front of them. You have to understand last 15 years and 34 years before that when industries were pushed out of Bengal.

[00:07:03]Bengal was once the top in industry and all. It was all industries left at Dunlop, Duncan, Hindustan Motors. It was so but at Bengal Chemicals, everything in the shop here, they left the state. So, and now the corruption of last 15 years what Bengal has witnessed, so it will take time. But, the way Subhendu Adhikari is working as per the Sankalp Patra, see it's not yet a month. If you can say he started working from 11th of May, 9th was the swearing. It is 21 days, but the kind of thing we have seen, witnessed, he has done, I think we are hopeful because I remember, you know, Julius Caesar made that Vinnie Vidi Vici I came I saw and conquered. The way he has started to Subhendu Adhikari came he saw and he conquered the hearts for now he has conquered the hearts of the people with the speed of his work. It's kind of Chakka Marana. Okay, he has hit a six in the beginning only because one has to understand the 8 lakh crore that's the debt Bengal has. Imagine the government is starting the exchequer is empty 8 lakh crore debt and you need investment, you need development for people to get work and then only the culture will change.

[00:08:15]Why so much of violence? When the resources are less there is abject poverty it will lead to violence. So for that you need investment but you have to understand to get investment the atmosphere has to be the environment has to be fertile for investment and I think that's the thing initially only what he did he took care of the security. See the chicken neck land and security was a big issue in this election. The chicken neck has been handed over to center which it was pending for years together. Then the border 569 kind of kilometers which had to be fenced that will be fenced by BSF that has been given to BSF that that will be done in some time. So because and we are seeing the exodus of the illegal immigrants. I am not saying it's totally free because in Bidhannagar you know there was illegal Rohingya colonies and there was that Shah Institute of nuclear sciences. It's director went to Bidhannagar police station several times citing security issues. Nothing was done. So there were Rohingya colonies.

[00:09:18]Now many of them are going to Bangladesh but we are not sure many of them have spread across the country the central government has to take care of that. So security is a huge thing and coming to women women safety was a huge issue. RG Kar case the way he has acted he suspended the three tainted police people that Vinit Goel, Indira Mukerjee, Abhishek Gupta, you know, they played a great role in covering up they tried to cover up Indira Gupta and all. So, that he has taken a great step. Now, we need development. Now, we need investment for women. Yes, Annapurna Bhandar for three 3,000 rupees that he has to do screening. We have seen in Lok Bhandar what has happened. Lok Bhandar one person was getting in three accounts and that too a man.

[00:10:00]Imagine a Uttam Shaw somebody got arrested also some Rafiqul.

[00:10:05]So many men were getting Lok Bhandar and Vidhwa Bhata the men dole meant for widows. So, he has to do the screening and already around more than 30 lakh they have found fraud names fraud entry.

[00:10:20]So, they have to do lot of clean up. In the beginning they have to do lot of clean up. He has started lot of clean up. We know more than 2,000 TMC leader, TMC councilors, TMC goons they have been arrested. Those who are mastermind or kingpin of all corruption, syndicate raj, cut money. These days you know what we are seeing in Bengal? In Cooch Behar I saw people coming out TMC people are making that they that the villagers can come and take back their cut money. A councilor's father is paying back the money. So, imagine the kind of fear there is order because if you want investment, you want development the first requirement is security and law and order. We remember what NHRC had said earlier that there was no rule of law but law of the ruler. But now a rule of law he is setting up a rule of law. The police is functioning.

[00:11:15]Police is functioning and that's why all the goons are going to jail. We are seeing big goons. People who even did bombing after 4th May even after BJP won. Shamim Ahmed you have seen the kind of kingdom he has. Golden beds in the godown. He is paraded in Bermuda. Why it is done?

[00:11:33]He could have been arrested to send a message, no corruption, no this kind of goonda gardi will be tolerated. So, this is good because you have to have faith >> for giving us giving us that a wholesome perspective on the current state of affairs in West Bengal and the push for substantial constructive change that has been spearheaded by the Chief Minister.

[00:11:59]Here's hoping that Bengal transforms into a state that prospers, that sees welfare, and that sees equality and equity amongst the people of the state.

[00:12:16]Gargi Nandi Roy, thank you very much for joining us and speaking to us on NewsX.