Bengal Ends Religion-Based Aid Schemes; Imam-Muezzin-Purohit Allowances Under Cloud

Curbing Minority Appeasement: Religion-Based Aid Schemes to End in Bengal; Uncertainty Over Imam-Muezzin Allowances.

Sankirtan Das | HENB | Kolkata | May 18, 2026: The newly formed West Bengal government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has initiated another round of major administrative and policy decisions during its second cabinet meeting, signalling a significant shift away from what the ruling dispensation describes as “religion-based appeasement politics.” Among the most consequential announcements made on Monday was the decision to discontinue all state government schemes and aid programmes based on religious classification from June 1, 2026.

The move comes just days after the government’s first cabinet meeting, in which six major decisions were announced, including a crackdown on cow smuggling and steps toward strengthening border fencing. The latest cabinet decisions indicate that the government is now moving toward restructuring welfare policies on what it claims will be a “uniform and non-discriminatory” basis.

Addressing the media after the cabinet meeting, Minister Agnimitra Paul stated that in-principle approval had been granted for the launch of the “Annapurna Yojana” scheme. The cabinet also approved a proposal to provide free transportation for women across West Bengal in all state-run buses beginning June 1, 2026.

In another significant decision, the state government announced the constitution of a Seventh Pay Commission aimed at revising the salary structures of state government employees, employees of statutory bodies, and staff serving in educational institutions.

However, the most politically sensitive decision pertains to the discontinuation of schemes operated under the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education, as well as certain programmes under the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, where benefits were allegedly extended on the basis of religious classification. According to the minister, such schemes will continue only until the end of the current month and will cease to operate from June onward.

“A detailed notification will be issued shortly, after which the exact framework and implementation details will become clear,” Agnimitra Paul said.

Questions Over Imam-Muezzin and Priest Allowances

The government’s announcement has triggered widespread discussion regarding the future of allowances provided to Imams and Muezzins, as well as financial assistance linked to religious institutions and festivals. While Monday’s cabinet briefing did not specifically mention these allowances, the issue has already become a subject of intense political debate.

Before assuming office, the ruling BJP had repeatedly asserted that government-sponsored “allowance politics” based on religious identity would be brought to an end. Following the party’s electoral victory, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had reiterated that the state government intended to discontinue religion-linked allowances and redirect public funds toward broader welfare and educational initiatives.

During a felicitation ceremony in Bhabanipur after the election results, the Chief Minister reportedly stated that allowances for Imams, Muezzins, and Purohits would eventually be withdrawn. According to her remarks, the resources saved from such expenditures would instead be channelled into expanding the “Vivekananda Scholarship” programme for students irrespective of caste or religion.

Nevertheless, the government has not yet formally clarified whether the Imam-Muezzin allowance scheme and grants linked to Durga Puja committees or temple priests will immediately cease under the new policy framework. Officials have indicated that greater clarity will emerge once the detailed government notification is published.

OBC Reservation List Under Review

The cabinet meeting also addressed the issue of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations in the state. Agnimitra Paul announced that, in accordance with a High Court directive, the government has decided to review the state OBC list and reassess reservation percentages applicable to these groups in government jobs and public appointments.

The minister stated that the existing sub-categorisation within the OBC list would also be abolished pending a fresh inquiry. The state government, she said, would take future decisions regarding the inclusion of specific communities in compliance with the directives of the court.

The issue of OBC classification and reservation has remained politically contentious in West Bengal for several years, particularly amid allegations by opposition parties that religion had increasingly influenced the inclusion process. Leaders of the present BJP government have alleged that under the earlier Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, the OBC reservation structure was implemented in a manner that allegedly enabled nearly 80 percent of the benefits to be availed by Muslim communities listed under the OBC category, while many Hindu OBC groups were allegedly deprived of proportional opportunities. The current BJP administration has stated that the proposed review and fresh inquiry are aimed at ending what it describes as discriminatory practices and ensuring a more balanced and legally compliant reservation framework for all backward communities.

Strong Warning Following Mosque Loudspeaker Protests

The cabinet developments also come against the backdrop of recent tensions in areas such as Asansol and Park Circus, where protests reportedly erupted over police measures to regulate loudspeaker volume at mosques. During the unrest, police outposts and officers on duty were allegedly attacked.

Reacting to the incidents, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a stern warning, stating:

“No one should take the law into their own hands; please cooperate with the police. The culprits will not be spared. Action that is 200% strict will be taken.”

The remarks are being viewed as part of the government’s broader attempt to project a stricter law-and-order approach while simultaneously repositioning welfare policies away from religious considerations.

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p style=”text-align: justify”>Political observers believe the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the precise scope of the government’s proposed restructuring, particularly concerning religious allowances, minority welfare programmes, and reservation policies.
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_Agency Inputs.