Shiv Sena cross swords with NCP over Ladki Bahin funds: Social justice minister slams diversion of Rs 400 cr from his dept

Indian Express

03-05-2025

The diversion of funds meant for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities for the state government's Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme has led to angry outbursts against Finance Minister Ajit Pawar from Social Justice Minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat, who termed it illegal and sarcastically said the Social Justice Department can now be closed.
'I was not even informed that around Rs 400 crore has been diverted from the Social Justice Department. I came to know about it from the media. If there is no need for the Social Justice Department, then it can very well be closed,' said Shirsat, who last month had opposed the move to divert money from his department.
The minister said that as per the law, money for the Social Justice Department cannot be diverted for any other purpose. 'This is not legal. Those brilliant minds sitting in the Finance Department should show me under which rule they have diverted the money,' he said, adding it was high-handedness by the Finance Department. 'I will talk to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about this. I do not want to comment about other departments, but I disagree with the decision on diverting money from my department,' he said.
Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike of the BJP could not be reached for comments despite several attempts.
The Maharashtra government on Friday issued two government resolutions, diverting Rs 410.30 crore from the Social Justice Department and Rs 335.70 crore from the Tribal Development Department for the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, under which Rs 1,500 per month is being given to women below the poverty line.
The Opposition too slammed the government terming it an economic crisis and an injustice to the SC and ST community. 'When the Maharashtra budget was presented, I had said the money allotted to the Social Justice and Tribal Development departments were not spent. The injustice against both departments continues even this year,' said state NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil. 'The funds allotted for SCs and STs are given as per the Constitution. Despite this the money is being diverted. At a time when the government is lacking money to continue with schemes, it is planning expensive roads, which no one has asked for,' he added.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal said the state government is not only fooling the SC and ST communities but also women. 'They had promised Rs 2,100 per month before the elections. But now, the government is struggling to give Rs 1,500 per month. The government is pushing Maharashtra to an economic crisis,' Sapkal said.