Maharashtra government formally launches 'Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme; CM seeks women's support

The Maharashtra government on Saturday formally launched the ambitious Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for eligible women with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde seeking womens support reported the PTICM Shinde also hinted at doubling the monthly stipend from Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 if the alliance is voted to power in elections as per the PTIMore than 1 crore women are expected to benefit from this scheme whose launch coincided with Rakshabandhan festivities beginning MondayThe Shiv SenaBJPNCP government facing a tough assembly polls battle against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA in coming months came up with theMukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme months after a debacle in Lok Sabha elections 2024 in MaharashtraThe scheme modelled on the MP governments Ladli Behna Yojana provides monthly Rs 1500 assistance to the married divorced and destitute women in the 2160 age group with Rs 25 lakh annual family income ceiling as per the PTIIf we receive your support we can manage to give you more than Rs 3000 CM Shinde said at the launch event marked by the display of pyrotechnics on a speciallycreated ramp at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi area of Pune in MaharashtraThe scheme was launched by the CM and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar who belong to BJP and NCP respectively at the glittering event attended by women in large numbersNotably the opposition parties from MVA including Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT have accused the state government of trying to buy womens votes and questioned the paltry allocation of Rs 1500 per monthIf you give us the strength the current amount of Rs 1500 will become Rs 2000 If we receive your support we can give you more than Rs 3000 They MVA are opposing this scheme but Mahayti is standing with you Shinde told the gathering of womenMahayuti allies believe the potential goodwill created by the cash transfer initiative will boost its poll prospects in MaharashtraWomen are so happy with this scheme Some vested interests tried to put a spanner in the scheme rollout with some of them approaching the court Shinde said the PTI reportedCM Shinde hit back at the MVA for dubbing the Rs 1500 allocation grossly inadequate The opposition bloc had assured an increase in the monthly cash transfer assistance if voted to powerThe opposition will never realise the value of Rs 1500 We are not born with a golden spoon in the mouth Maha Vikas Aghadi was in power for 25 years Did they give a single rupee to women Dont worry this scheme will continue the chief minister added according to the PTICM Shinde who became chief minister with the BJPs support in July 2022 also listed various welfare initiatives rolled out by the Mahayuti government covering youth and other sections of societyWe also launched a new scheme for Ladka Bhau beloved brothers he saidThe new scheme aimed at job training and stipends for young men tentatively named the Ladka Bhau Yojana is part of the Mukhya Mantri Yuva KaryaPrashikshan Yojana This scheme seeks to address unemployment by offering onthejob training with a monthly stipend to eligible candidatesCM Shinde referred to MVAs claims that the Mahayuti government would collapse apparently due to internal bickering as Fadnavis was made to accept the post of Deputy CMThe Opposition claimed that our government will collapse On the contrary our strength has gone up after Ajit Pawar joined us in July 2023 by splitting NCP the chief minister added the news agency reported on SaturdayLadki Bahin scheme wont be a turning point for Maharashtra govt Sanjay RautMeanwhile Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday said the Ladki Bahin scheme for women will not be a turning point for the Maharashtra government but it will be a Uturn the PTI reportedHe said the previous Maharashtra governments had implemented several such welfare schemesLadki Bahin Yojana will not be a turning point for the government but it will rather prove to be a Uturn for it Raut told reporters when asked whether the ambitious initiative will be a turning point for the Mahayuti dispensationSanjay Raut also promised to increase the monthly stipend under the scheme from Rs 1500 to Rs 3000 if the opposition comes to power in assembly elections due in OctoberNovemberMahayuti allies believe the potential goodwill created by the cash transfer initiative will boost its poll prospects in Maharashtrawith PTI inputs