The Matrishakti Bharosa Card promises ₹3,000 per month for eligible women in West Bengal. But like every government scheme, it comes with eligibility conditions.
Before the application portal opens, it is smart to check whether you qualify. This article breaks down every eligibility condition (বয়স, বাসস্থান, আয়, পরিবারের অবস্থা) so you are fully prepared when the time comes to apply.
Matrishakti Bharosa Card Eligibility — Quick Overview
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Gender | Women only |
| Age | 18–60 years (expected) |
| Residence | Permanent resident of West Bengal |
| Government Job | Must not hold one |
| Pension | Must not be receiving one |
| Income Limit | Family income limit expected (TBC) |
| Aadhaar | Mandatory |
| Bank Account | Aadhaar-linked account required |
Gender Eligibility
The Matrishakti Bharosa Card is exclusively for women (শুধুমাত্র মহিলাদের জন্য) Men are not eligible for this scheme. Unemployed men should instead check the Yuva Shakti Bharosa Card eligibility criteria.
Age Eligibility
The expected age range for the Matrishakti Bharosa Card is 18 to 60 years (১৮ থেকে ৬০ বছর বয়সী মহিলারা আবেদন করতে পারবেন).
This is a wider range than the Yuva Shakti Bharosa Card, reflecting the scheme’s intent to cover not just young women but also older homemakers and women approaching retirement age with no steady income.
The lower limit of 18 ensures that adult women, including young wives and mothers, can benefit. The upper limit of 60 aligns with general retirement-age norms in India.
Residence Eligibility
The applicant must be a permanent resident of West Bengal. This is a strict requirement (পশ্চিমবঙ্গের স্থায়ী বাসিন্দা হওয়া আবশ্যক).
Accepted proof of residence includes:
- Aadhaar Card with West Bengal address
- West Bengal Voter ID card
- Ration card issued in West Bengal
- Domicile certificate
Women who have recently moved to West Bengal after marriage (বিয়ের পর নতুন ঠিকানা) should ensure their Aadhaar and voter ID reflect their current West Bengal address before applying.
Employment and Income Eligibility
The Matrishakti Bharosa Card is designed for women without a stable government income. The following conditions are expected to apply:
- The woman must not hold a job in the central or state government.
- She must not be receiving a pension from any government source.
- Her family’s annual income must be below the specified limit (TBC).
Homemakers (গৃহিণীরা) are specifically targeted by this scheme. A woman who manages the household and has no personal income is exactly the kind of beneficiary this scheme is designed for.
Women who do informal work, such as small home-based businesses, agricultural work, or domestic help, may still qualify. The key disqualification is a formal government salary or pension.
Family Income Limit
An annual income ceiling for families is expected. Based on similar schemes like Ladli Behna in Madhya Pradesh and Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin in Maharashtra, the limit is likely to fall between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹3 lakh per year for the entire household.
Families where any member is a central or state government employee will likely be excluded. This is standard practice in most state welfare schemes.
পরিবারের মোট বার্ষিক আয়সীমা সরকারি বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে নিশ্চিত করা হবে.
Aadhaar and Bank Account Requirements
These are mandatory technical requirements for DBT payments:
- Valid Aadhaar Card in the applicant’s name
- Mobile number linked to Aadhaar for OTP verification
- Bank account in the woman’s own name, linked to Aadhaar
- The bank account must be active
This is important: the bank account must be in the woman’s own name, not her husband’s or father’s. If you do not have a personal bank account, open one now at any nationalized bank. Jan Dhan accounts are accepted (জন ধন অ্যাকাউন্টও গ্রহণযোগ্য).
Matrishakti vs Lakshmir Bhandar — Can Former Beneficiaries Apply?
Many women in West Bengal received money under the TMC government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. That scheme is now discontinued under the BJP government.
Former Lakshmir Bhandar recipients must apply for the Matrishakti Bharosa Card. There is no automatic transfer. However, the eligibility criteria are broadly similar, so most former beneficiaries should qualify (পুরনো সুবিধাভোগীরাও নতুন করে আবেদন করতে পারবেন).
Who Is NOT Eligible?
- Men
- Women below 18 or above 60 years of age
- Women who hold a central or state government job
- Women receiving a government pension
- Women who are not permanent residents of West Bengal
- Families with income above the specified annual limit
Frequently Asked Questions
Can women doing small home-based work apply for the Matrishakti Bharosa Card?
Women engaged in small, informal work, such as tailoring, home-based businesses, agricultural work, or domestic help, may still qualify. The main disqualification is holding a formal government job or receiving a pension.
Can newly married women apply for the scheme?
Yes. Women who recently moved to West Bengal after marriage may apply, but their Aadhaar and voter ID should reflect their current West Bengal address.
Is a Jan Dhan bank account accepted for Matrishakti Bharosa Card?
Yes. Jan Dhan accounts are expected to be accepted as long as the account is active and linked with Aadhaar.
Can widows apply for the Matrishakti Bharosa Card?
Widows within the eligible age group may qualify if they do not receive a government pension and meet the income criteria.
Can private sector employees apply for the Matrishakti Bharosa Card?
Women working in the private sector may or may not qualify depending on their income and the final government guidelines.
Do homemakers need income proof for the scheme?
An income certificate or family income details may be required if the government introduces an annual household income limit during registration.
পরিবারের অন্য কেউ সরকারি চাকরি করলে কি আবেদন করা যাবে?
পরিবারের কোনো সদস্য সরকারি চাকরিতে থাকলে আবেদন বাতিল হতে পারে। চূড়ান্ত নিয়ম সরকারি বিজ্ঞপ্তিতে জানানো হবে।
বিয়ের পর ঠিকানা পরিবর্তন হলে কি আবেদন করা যাবে?
হ্যাঁ। তবে আবেদন করার আগে আধার কার্ড ও ভোটার কার্ডে বর্তমান পশ্চিমবঙ্গের ঠিকানা আপডেট করা উচিত।
জন ধন অ্যাকাউন্ট থাকলে কি আবেদন করা যাবে?
হ্যাঁ। আধারের সঙ্গে লিঙ্ক করা সক্রিয় জন ধন অ্যাকাউন্ট গ্রহণযোগ্য হতে পারে।
বিধবা মহিলারা কি আবেদন করতে পারবেন?
যোগ্য বয়সসীমার মধ্যে থাকা বিধবা মহিলারা আবেদন করতে পারেন, যদি তারা সরকারি পেনশন না পান এবং আয়সীমার মধ্যে থাকেন।
গৃহিণীদের কি এই প্রকল্পে অগ্রাধিকার দেওয়া হবে?
হ্যাঁ। এই প্রকল্পটি মূলত গৃহিণী ও আর্থিকভাবে নির্ভরশীল মহিলাদের জন্য তৈরি করা হয়েছে।
ব্যক্তিগত ব্যাংক অ্যাকাউন্ট না থাকলে কী করতে হবে?
আবেদন করার আগে আবেদনকারীর নিজের নামে একটি সক্রিয় ব্যাংক অ্যাকাউন্ট খুলতে হবে এবং সেটি আধারের সঙ্গে লিঙ্ক করতে হবে।
Final Thoughts
The Matrishakti Bharosa Card is a major step towards women’s financial independence in West Bengal (মহিলাদের আর্থিক স্বাধীনতার দিকে একটি বড় পদক্ষেপ). If you are a woman aged 18–60 living in West Bengal, without a government job or pension, you are very likely eligible.
Start preparing now. Get your Aadhaar updated, open a bank account in your name if you do not have one, and gather your documents. The portal will open soon.
Read more: What is Matrishakti Bharosa Card? | BJP ₹3000 Scheme West Bengal | Documents Needed for Bharosa Card