West Bengal govt will give ₹5 lakh to 60 Rath Yatra committees: CM Suvendu Adhikari

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that his government will give ₹5 lakh each to 60 Rath Yatra committees in the State on Monday (July 13, 2026). Multiple other religious welfare schemes and benefits were also announced by the top leader. 

“The Rath Yatras which have been here for decades, 60 such Rath Yatra committees will be given ₹5 lakh each today… In the first year if there is any error in making the list, forgive us, let the administration know, we will make an error-free list in the coming years,” Mr Adhikari added. 

Kanwar yatris who set out on their religious journey during the monsoon (Sravan) season will also be provided with “Seva camps” along their journey at every 5 k.m. interval. “We are doing work worth ₹15 crores at the Tarakeshwar Dham,” Mr Adhikari said. He also added that there will be three types of camps, police help camp, refreshment camp, and medical camps will be set up. 

The CM also said that in this year’s State budget they have kept a provision for a “Tirtha Khetra Circut” which will help develop and upgrade the historic temples, maths (spiritual centre) of the State, including the Kiriteswari Shaktipeeth Temple in Murshidabad district. 

He added that the work will continue for the next two years and that ₹1,000 crore has already been sanctioned in 2026 for this work. 

“The ancient temples which have heritage and history, we have taken the initiative to revive and redevelop them to their former glory and bring them under the heritage umbrella,” the CM added. 

Notably, Mr Adhikari had been critical of the previous Trinamool Congress’ government’s decision to give doles to over 45,000 Durga Puja committees across the State before focusing on paying outstanding Dearness Allowance arrears of State government employees. 

Before they came to power, Minister and senior BJP leader Agnimitra Paul had also called Mamata Banerjee’s decision to give money to Durga Puja committees as “politics of religion” and the Trinamool government’s lack of focus on development. 

Earlier in June, 2026, Mr Adhikari had hinted that they may continue to support Durga Pujas financially, but big-budget pujas may not get the monetary benefit, and the doles may become “need-based”.