For now, officials have maintained that Swasthya Sathi benefits will continue during the convergence phase. In a bid to reshape the state’s social support structure, the newly elected government is preparing to implement a series of major welfare schemes, from rolling out the proposed direct cash transfer scheme for women, free bus travel for female passengers, to integrating the Central schemes that had previously been stalled. According to sources, the welfare implementation begins with Annapurna Bhandar, the government’s proposed direct-benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for women, which is to be implemented from June 1. Under this scheme, eligible women are expected to receive Rs 3,000 per month directly into their bank accounts through DBT. The scheme is being viewed as the BJP government’s counterpart to the previous TMC government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which had become one of Bengal’s most politically influential welfare programmes.…