Home kitchens across West Bengal may soon transform into formal revenue streams for women as the newly elected BJP government is set to unveil a comprehensive cloud kitchen policy alongside an array of welfare schemes targeted at women’s empowerment, fulfilling key promises from its election manifesto.
In the West Bengal Budget speech Monday, Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta emphasised the formalisation of unpaid domestic labour as a vital economic driver. “Encouraging household women to convert their home kitchens into cloud kitchens can significantly boost the economy,” Dasgupta said.
“This model turns everyday cooking skills into paid, productive activity with minimal investment, leveraging existing home infrastructure and low entry barriers.”
“Our government will implement a new policy for cloud kitchens with the aim of micro entrepreneurship among women and by addressing issues like food safety, hygiene, competition and work-life balance through training in business and digital skills, microfinance, simplified regulations and better infrastructure, etc,” he added.
Beyond entrepreneurship, the budget introduced financial support systems, employment reservations, and security measures. The government announced a 33 per cent reservation for women in state government jobs, coinciding with a drive to fill 1 lakh existing vacancies.
To curb dropout rates, unmarried girl students enrolling in undergraduate courses at government and government-aided colleges will receive a one-time financial support of Rs 50,000. A total of Rs 21,000 crore has been earmarked for this initiative.
“I would like to highlight that special emphasis will be placed on empowering women as equal partners in the journey of development. The government believes that no society can progress sustainably unless women are economically independent, socially secure, and represented in leadership and decision-making processes. Policies will therefore prioritise women’s safety, education, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, healthcare, and employment opportunities,” said Dasgupta.
Dasgupta said the flagship Annapurna Yojana has been launched with a massive outlay of Rs 36,000 crore. The scheme provides eligible women aged 25 to 60 with a monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000, deposited directly into their linked bank accounts.
He also said the state is expanding the scope of the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Pregnant and lactating mothers will now receive a total financial assistance package of Rs 21,000 alongside six specialised maternal nutrition kits to minimise wage loss and combat infant malnutrition.
Effective June 1, women across the state are entitled to free travel on state-run buses. The government allocated Rs 550 crore for this project and will soon issue dedicated ‘pink cards’ to beneficiaries, said the minister.
“Ensuring women’s safety is a top priority for our government. To enhance women’s safety through stronger institutional mechanisms and improved policing systems, we will establish at least one women’s police station in every sub-division and set up a Nari Sahayata Desk in every police station,” said Dasgupta.
He also said that Durga Suraksha Squads, comprising women officers, will be formed to patrol busy city areas and public places. “We will also establish two all-women battalions, named after Matangini Hazra and Rani Shiromani, within the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF),” said Dasgupta.