Stampede-Like Situation In Bengal As Women Rush To Apply For New Scheme

A key factor behind the victory of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections were women voters. About a half of Bengal's women voted for the ruling party that has introduced several cash transfer welfare schemes for women. Now, the government has brought a new scheme, Lakshmir Bhandaar, that offers Rs 1,000 a month to women from SC/ST communities and Rs 500 a month to other women. But the rush to register for the scheme is leading to stampedes-like situations at camps set up to distribute the application forms.