Maharashtra govt formally launches 'Ladki Bahin' scheme; CM seeks women's support
Majhi Ladki Bahin" scheme for eligible women, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hinting at doubling the monthly stipend from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 if the alliance is voted to power in elections. More than 1 crore women are expected to benefit from this scheme whose launch coincided with Rakshabandhan festivities beginning Monday.
The Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government, facing a tough assembly polls battle against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in coming months, came up with the «Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin» scheme, months after a debacle in Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.
The scheme, modelled on the MP government's «Ladli Behna Yojana», provides monthly Rs 1,500 assistance to the married, divorced, and destitute women in the 21-60 age group with Rs 2.5 lakh annual family income ceiling.
«If we receive your support, we can manage to give you more than Rs 3,000,» Shinde said at the launch event marked by the display of pyrotechnics on a specially-created ramp-cum-walk way at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi area of Pune.
The 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 numbers.
Notably, the opposition parties from MVA, including Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), have accused the state government of trying to buy women's votes and questioned the «paltry» allocation of Rs 1,500 per month.
«If you give us the strength, the current amount of Rs 1,500 will become Rs
