<h1>West Bengal pre-poll budget increases women's Lakshmir Bhandar and proposes Rs 1,500 monthly youth stipend.</h1> The interim Rs 4.06 lakh crore vote-on-account prioritises welfare: Lakshmir Bhandar payments rise by Rs 500 (to Rs 1,500/1,700 for general/SC-ST women) with an additional Rs 15,000 crore allocation and immediate disbursement from February; Banglar Yuva Sathi proposes Rs 1,500 monthly for unemployed youth (21-40) for up to five years subject to rollout from August 15 if the incumbent is returned, with Rs 5,000 crore earmarked. The opposition contends many promises are election-oriented and may be restricted by the Model Code of Conduct.