Loading...
Loading...
Employment & Rural LivelihoodOfficial Info Verified
Mahatma-Shree
West Bengal’s state-funded rural employment scheme for Job Card-holders (formerly known as Karmashree), assuring a minimum of 100 days of work.
Department: Panchayats & Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal
Work Assurance
100 Days Work
Minimum assured per Job Card
Former Scheme Name
Karmashree
Rechristened Mahatma-Shree
Target Beneficiaries
Job Card-Holders
Rural manual wage workers
FY 2026–27 Budget
₹175 Crore
State Government outlay
Language:
Scheme Overview
What is Mahatma-Shree?
Mahatma-Shree is the current official name of the Government of West Bengal’s 100% state-funded rural employment scheme, formerly known and widely searched as Karmashree. Rechristened in the 2026–27 Budget Speech, the scheme was initiated to safeguard the livelihoods of rural laborers through the state’s own budgetary resources. Under Mahatma-Shree, a minimum of 100 days of work is ensured for each eligible Job Card-holder, with an allocation of ₹175 crore provided for FY 2026–27.
Primary Purpose:To provide guaranteed rural wage employment opportunities to eligible Job Card-holders across West Bengal, assuring a minimum of 100 days of work.
Key Scheme Objectives
- Ensure a minimum of 100 days of manual wage employment per fiscal year to eligible rural Job Card-holders.
- Protect rural worker livelihoods through 100% state budget financing independently of central schemes.
- Create productive, durable community assets including village roads, water harvesting structures, and irrigation channels.
- Ensure transparent wage disbursal directly into the bank/post office accounts of registered Job Card workers.
Financial Framework
Employment Framework & 100-Day Assurance
Mahatma-Shree (formerly Karmashree) is a wage-employment scheme, not an unconditional cash giveaway or monthly allowance. Eligible Job Card-holders are assigned manual labor across approved rural works and paid daily wages according to state-notified wage rates.
Assured Employment
100 Days
Cumulative Workers
80 Lakh+
Person-Days Generated
111 Cr+
Reported Expenditure
₹21,733 Cr
Minimum 100 Days Work Under Mahatma-Shree
The 2026–27 West Bengal Budget Speech confirms that the Karmashree scheme has been rechristened as Mahatma-Shree, ensuring a minimum of 100 days of work for each Job Card-holder with ₹175 crore allocated for smooth operation.
Key Pillars of Mahatma-Shree:
State-Funded Rural Resilience
100% funded and executed by the Government of West Bengal independently of central rural schemes.
Job Card Worker Eligibility
All registered, active rural Job Card-holders are eligible to demand wage employment from their local Gram Panchayat.
Community Asset Creation
Focuses on rural pond desiltation, flood protection embankments, village pathways, and afforestation projects.
Historical 50-Day vs Current 100-Day Evolution:
Earlier phases of Karmashree originally referenced a minimum of 50 days of work. Under the current 2026–27 Budget directives for Mahatma-Shree, the assurance has been upgraded to a minimum of 100 days.
Eligibility Guidelines
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Review standard qualifying conditions, income limits, and applicable waiver categories. Read our guide on understanding eligibility
Standard Eligibility Requirements
- Rural household residing in West Bengal holding a valid, active Job Card
- Adult family members willing to undertake unskilled manual work for community projects
- Work demanded and recorded through the local Gram Panchayat / Block administration
Not Eligible:
- Urban households residing in municipal areas not covered by rural Job Card administration.
- Persons unwilling to perform manual labor or seeking direct cash handouts without work.
Portal & Rebranding Notice
Official Portal: karmashree.wb.gov.in
Domain Name vs Current Mahatma-Shree Branding
The official Government of West Bengal portal currently operates on the domain karmashree.wb.gov.in while prominently displaying the official "Mahatmashree" branding following the 2026 rechristening. Citizens and administrators use this portal for district monitoring and worker reporting.
Local Administration Channel
How to Seek Work & Inquire at Gram Panchayat
Job Card-holders seeking employment under Mahatma-Shree should contact their local Gram Panchayat office or Block Development Office (BDO). Work allocation and site assignments are coordinated at the local panchayat level.
Required Documentation
Commonly Required Documents
Exact document requirements can depend on the application type and applicant circumstances. View our common documents checklist
Standard
Valid Rural Job Card
Official Job Card issued by the local Gram Panchayat showing household registration number.
Standard
Aadhaar Card of Participating Workers
Aadhaar identification linked to the Job Card for attendance and payment verification.
Standard
Worker Bank / Post Office Account Passbook
Active bank account passbook copy for wage crediting via Direct Benefit Transfer.
Guidance: Ensure the applicant’s bank account is active and matches the beneficiary name exactly before institutional submission.
Application Process
How to Apply for Mahatma-Shree
Step-by-step application and verification procedure based on official guidelines. Read our official portals guide
1
Hold a Valid Job Card
Ensure your rural household holds a valid Job Card issued by the Gram Panchayat.
2
Submit Work Demand at Gram Panchayat
Approach your local Gram Panchayat office to submit a demand for manual wage employment.
3
Muster Roll & Site Allocation
Panchayat officials assign approved rural work sites and register the worker on the official muster roll.
4
Execution of Rural Work
Complete assigned daily manual work (pond excavation, path repair, planting, etc.) at the project location.
5
Direct Wage Credit into Bank Account
Wages are calculated according to notified daily rates and credited directly into worker bank accounts.
Payment Method
Wages for manual work calculated according to government-notified daily wage rates and transferred directly into workers’ bank/post office accounts via DBT.
Official Portal & Tracking
Access the official Government portal for online services, guidelines, and application tracking.
Open Official PortalBudget Commitment:FY 2026–27 Budget allocation of ₹175 Crore for minimum 100 days of work.
Important to Know
Mahatma-Shree is the current official name of the scheme formerly known as Karmashree.
The scheme provides minimum 100 days of manual wage employment per Job Card, not an unconditional cash grant.
The scheme is 100% funded by the Government of West Bengal and is distinct from Central MGNREGA.
Earlier phases referred to 50 days; the 2026–27 Budget explicitly commits to minimum 100 days of work.
Cumulatively, over 80 lakh Job Card-holders have been provided work and 111 crore+ person-days generated.
For work availability and Job Card inquiries, contact your local Gram Panchayat or BDO office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mahatma-Shree Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and answers regarding eligibility, benefits, documents, and application process for Mahatma-Shree.
Mahatma-Shree is the current name of West Bengal’s 100% state-funded rural employment scheme, formerly known as Karmashree, which provides guaranteed wage employment to rural Job Card-holders.
Sources Checked
All factual information on this page has been compiled and verified against official government portals, gazettes, and departmental guidelines.
Last Verified: 2026-08-18T00:00:00Z
Independent Platform Notice:
WBScheme is an independent information platform and is not the Government of West Bengal. Mahatma-Shree/Karmashree work availability, Job Card requirements, implementation procedures and applicable rules may change. Always verify current information through the official Government of West Bengal portal or your Gram Panchayat/Block administration.
Employment & Livelihood
