Bengal bans liquor shops near schools, temples; ₹5 fish meals announced

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on May 26 announced that liquor shops will not be permitted within a 1 km radius of schools, colleges, and temples across the state as his government unveiled a series of new administrative and welfare measures.

The announcement came during a high-level administrative review meeting held in Kalyani in Nadia District, attended by officials from Nadia, North 24 Parganas, and Hooghly Districts. The meeting focused on governance priorities of the newly formed BJP government in the state.

Adhikari said the restriction on liquor outlets was aimed at preserving the educational and religious environment near institutions and places of worship.

The CM also announced that fish and rice meals would be served for ₹5 twice a week at nearly 400 state-run Maa Canteens across West Bengal.

“The Maa Canteen that we have, which is almost 400, two times a week we will offer fish to people for ₹5,” Adhikari said.

The announcement comes within weeks of Adhikari taking office as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister. The government has begun rolling out several administrative changes and welfare initiatives promised during the election campaign.

Among the major announcements was the launch of the Annapurna Bhandar scheme, under which women in the state will receive direct cash assistance of ₹3,000 per month. Adhikari said work on the scheme would begin from May 27.

“I and the minister concerned, Agnimitra Paul, will publish a form on May 27 from Nabanna (State Secretariat), which you will need to fill out. The faster you fill up the forms and enroll, the more benefits we can offer,” Adhikari said.

According to the government, application forms for the Annapurna Bhandar scheme will be made available both online and offline. Officials and MLAs have been instructed to assist eligible women with registration and enrollment procedures.

The Chief Minister said welfare schemes launched under the previous Trinamool Congress government, including Lakshmir Bhandar and Swastha Saathi, would continue until the transition to the new systems is completed.

The government plans to align Swastha Saathi with the Ayushman Bharat health insurance program implemented by the Centre, while Lakshmir Bhandar benefits will eventually be shifted to the newly announced Annapurna Bhandar scheme.

Adhikari said the government would prioritize healthcare services, pre-monsoon preparedness, and welfare delivery mechanisms in the coming weeks.

“Only Indians will get this benefit. No Bangladeshi coming from outside will get these benefits,” he said.

He also announced that women would be allowed to travel free on state-run buses from June 1. According to the Chief Minister, the government will issue special cards to women passengers to improve transparency in the free travel system.

The Maa Canteen, Lakshmir Bhandar, and Swastha Saathi schemes were among the flagship welfare initiatives introduced by the previous Trinamool Congress government.

Following the change in power, uncertainty had emerged regarding whether the programs would continue under the BJP administration.

The new government has now indicated that the schemes will remain operational, although some will be restructured or renamed and integrated with corresponding central government programs such as Ayushman Bharat.