Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that over one crore eligible women in the state will soon benefit from the government’s ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, receiving Rs 1,500 financial assistance per month starting from August 17. During a trial run of the scheme, some eligible women have already received an instalment of Rs 3,000 for two months. Fadnavis emphasized that the scheme is set to officially begin this Saturday and aims to support more than one crore women across Maharashtra.
The Ladki Bahin scheme was initially scheduled to launch on August 17, but it has been clarified that July will be considered the starting month of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Eligible women will receive an initial instalment of Rs 3,000 for two months, with subsequent monthly payments of Rs 1,500. The scheme is a flagship initiative of the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, modeled after the successful ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ in Madhya Pradesh.
The scheme, which was included in the supplementary budget of the Maharashtra government, is expected to cost the state exchequer Rs 46,000 crore annually. With the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra likely to be held in October or November, the government, comprising Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, is aiming to portray the financial assistance provided under the Ladki Bahin scheme as a special Raksha Bandhan gift to women, coinciding with the festival celebrated on Monday.
As the official launch of the Ladki Bahin scheme approaches, the Women and Child Development Department successfully transferred Rs 3,000 to select bank accounts of beneficiaries on a trial basis, covering the first two months of the stipend. Under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, underprivileged women between the ages of 21 to 65 will receive Rs 1,500 per month from the state government. The scheme, announced in the state’s budget at the end of June, is being rolled out ahead of the assembly polls and is expected to cost Rs 46,000 crore annually.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde assured that the government has fulfilled its promise to transfer the initial instalment to women beneficiaries and urged them to ignore critics who have labeled the scheme as a political tactic or financially unsustainable. Shinde emphasized that opposition parties attempted to hinder the implementation of the scheme, even going to the Bombay High Court to challenge it. However, the HC rejected their demands, validating the government’s initiative.
In conclusion, the Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra aims to provide crucial financial assistance to over one crore eligible women, supporting them with a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500. With the scheme set to officially launch on August 17, the state government is dedicated to empowering women and promoting their well-being through this flagship initiative.
