Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis to review Ladki Bahin Yojana beneficiaries
Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis to review Ladki Bahin Yojana beneficiaries
Shortly after taking office as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis declared that his administration will review the widely recognized Ladki Bahin Yojna Scheme.
Fadnavis mentioned that one of the initial actions of his government will be to review the list of beneficiaries and remove those who do not meet the eligibility criteria. He noted, “There are complaints regarding beneficiaries not adhering to the required parameters, and it is essential to scrutinize them. The program will not be entirely abolished. The examination will be similar to the PM Kisan Yojana, where ineligible beneficiaries voluntarily relinquished their benefits.”
He also stated that the proposal to increase the payout from ₹1,500 per woman to ₹2,100, as outlined in their manifesto, will take effect from the next financial year.
Currently, Maharashtra has over 24.3 million beneficiaries enrolled in the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides a monthly cash benefit of ₹1,500 to recipients, costing the state ₹3,700 crore each month.
Fadnavis’s predecessor, Eknath Shinde, who has recently taken office as deputy chief minister, stated during a separate press conference that he and other government officials have instructed the bureaucracy to promptly transfer the December installment to the beneficiaries accounts. He emphasized, “The scheme has been crucial to our electoral success and will not be discontinued.” It is worth noting that the November installment was disbursed in October, as the election code of conduct came into effect the following month.
During his initial press conference as Chief Minister, Fadnavis addressed the potential for a caste-based survey, which has been requested by the Congress party. He indicated that his government is not fundamentally opposed to the idea. “We backed the caste-based survey in Bihar and are not against it. However, it should not be used as a tool that harms the micro OBCs. There needs to be transparency regarding the purpose of conducting a caste-based survey,” he stated.
When questioned about whether his government would permit the Opposition to have a leader in the Assembly, given that they do not meet the required 10% of total seats, Fadnavis stated that the decision would be made by the Speaker. He noted, “In the Lok Sabha as well, there was no opposition leader for 10 years, but the largest opposition party was given the protocol and statutory powers it deserved.”
Fadnavis expressed his hope for an enhancement in the political discourse within the state. “I urge all parties to work towards restoring the culture of civility for which Maharashtra was once renowned,” he added.
