KOLKATA: The West Bengal government is considering a significant change in the way financial assistance is provided to Durga Puja committees across the state. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has indicated that while the popular grant scheme introduced under the previous administration may continue, future support is likely to be based on actual need rather than being distributed uniformly to all organisers.
Speaking at a press conference, Adhikari said no final decision has yet been taken regarding this year’s Durga Puja grants. However, he suggested that financially strong committees may no longer receive government assistance, while smaller organisers that depend on such support could continue to benefit. According to the chief minister, public funds should be directed toward committees that genuinely require financial help to conduct the festival.
The remarks signal a possible shift in one of West Bengal’s most prominent cultural support programmes. Over the years, the Durga Puja grant evolved from a limited assistance initiative into a large-scale expenditure that became closely associated with the previous Trinamool Congress government. The scheme has often been viewed as both a cultural and political tool, given the immense significance of Durga Puja in Bengal’s social and cultural landscape.
The proposed review comes amid broader discussions within the state government on expenditure management and welfare prioritisation. Officials have previously indicated that the administration is examining ways to reduce non-essential spending while ensuring that resources are directed toward welfare programmes and development initiatives. Reports have suggested that several schemes inherited from the previous government are being reassessed to determine their long-term financial sustainability.
The BJP-led government has already undertaken a series of policy changes since assuming office in West Bengal. These include the discontinuation of certain religion-based assistance programmes and a wider review of welfare policies. The administration has maintained that public spending should focus on need-based support rather than universal financial distributions.
Durga Puja remains one of the largest cultural celebrations in India and holds special importance in West Bengal, where thousands of community pujas are organised every year. Any modification to the grant system is likely to attract attention from organisers, political parties and residents alike.
For now, the government has not announced any final framework or eligibility criteria. Officials are expected to hold further discussions before making a formal decision on this year’s assistance programme. Until then, puja committees across the state await clarity on whether the traditional grant structure will continue or be replaced by a targeted, need-based model.
