- By Surarika Das
- Sun, 05 Jul 2026 02:15 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- The CM claimed that the benefits are only for the people who are "genuinely eligible and needy people."
- Vaccine hesitancy in Bengal is lower than the national average.
- CM had reiterated that any family or guardian refusing or neglecting to give their children mandatory government vaccines will be considered ineligible for schemes.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari claimed that people who are married thrice, refuse to vaccinate their children, or have dropped out from government schools to enroll in certain religious educational institutions will not be eligible for any of the state's social welfare schemes. Adhikari made this statement while conducting a review meeting with senior officials in North Bengal.
The CM claimed that the benefits are only for the people who are "genuinely eligible and needy people." He said that no non-Indian will receive the benefits.
However, this is not the first instance that Adhikari has mentioned about these conditions. In several public meetings, after taking an oath as CM on May 9, he questioned people who do not hesitate to receive incentives from the government while refusing to adapt its policies.
The Annapurna Scheme Controversy
On July 1, during the implementation review of the government's flagship Annapurna Yojana, the CM had reiterated that any family or guardian refusing or neglecting to give their children mandatory government vaccines will be deemed ineligible.
On page 8 of the 11-page Annapurna Yojana application form, applicants must provide the vaccination status of up to four children, whether they attend government-aided, private, or madrasa schools, and list the welfare schemes from which the family already receives financial assistance.
Vaccination Hesitancy Lower Than National Average
As per the government data, vaccine hesitancy in Bengal is lower than the national average, and overall vaccination coverage ranges from 92 per cent to 99 per cent. Between 96 per cent and 99 per cent of children are vaccinated at state-run health centers.
The Centre's Universal Immunization Program under the National Health Mission provides free vaccines against polio, TB, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, pneumonia, meningitis, rotavirus diarrhoea, measles, rubella, pneumococcal disease, and Japanese encephalitis.