Latest news with #MukhyamantriMajhiLadkiBahin
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
New wine shop licences will need legislature nod; none issued: Ajit Pawar
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Sunday clarified that no new licences have been issued, and any such decision would require the approval of the state legislature, as mandated by a rule in place since 1974. 'A decision was taken back then that liquor shop licences cannot be granted without taking the legislature into confidence. That rule still stands… Alcohol addiction affects men, but the real suffering is borne by women. These rules were made keeping that social impact in mind,' he said. Pawar's remarks came after the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) accused the government of planning to issue 328 new liquor licences to boost revenue. A report published in Loksatta stated that the state government was set to lift a 50-year-long freeze on issuing new wine shop licences. According to the report, the government will issue new licences as per the recommendation of the recently formed committee. The move is part of a broader strategy to increase revenue through the Excise Department, which is the fourth-largest contributor to the state's income, generating around Rs 43,000 crore annually. With welfare schemes such as 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' demanding significant funding, the government is exploring additional sources of income. If the recommendations of a recently formed committee are implemented, the excise revenue is expected to rise by Rs 14,000 crore per year, Loksatta reported. However, the decision has sparked controversy and allegations of conflict of interest. A committee to implement these reforms was formed under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Ajit Pawar. Industry experts and opposition leaders questioned the appropriateness of Pawar leading the committee, suggesting it may benefit his close network. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad alleged that the government is trying to recover funds spent on schemes like Ladki Bahin by reviving long-suspended licenses. 'This is like turning a brother into a drunkard to run the household for a sister,' Awhad said. 'The moral cost of such a policy will be immense.' Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut called for an inquiry into the alleged distribution of licences to relatives of ministers. 'Liquor licences are being delivered directly to homes of ruling party MLAs,' Raut said. According to officials, the Excise Department had submitted proposals to increase state excise revenue, including the liberalisation of wine sales and issuing new licences. However, they confirmed that no decision has been made, and the 1974 rule remains binding. Maharashtra currently has around 1,700 foreign liquor and 3,500 country liquor licences, all issued before 1974.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Maharashtra govt plans to lift 50-year freeze on new liquor shop licences to boost revenue
In a move aimed at boosting the state revenue, the Maharashtra government is set to lift a 50-year-long freeze on issuing new wine shop licences. According to a report published in Loksatta, the government will issue 328 new licences as per the recommendation of the recently formed committee. If implemented, this will mark the end of a ban in place since 1974 following public resistance. The move is part of a broader strategy to increase revenue through the Excise Department, which is the fourth-largest contributor to the state's income, generating around Rs 43,000 crore annually. With welfare schemes like 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' demanding significant funding, the government is exploring additional sources of income. If the recommendations of a recently formed committee are implemented, the excise revenue is expected to rise by Rs 14,000 crore per year, Loksatta reported. However, the decision has sparked controversy and allegations of conflict of interest. A committee to implement these reforms was formed under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Ajit Pawar. Critics have raised concerns over this appointment, pointing out that individuals closely associated with Pawar are involved in the liquor industry. A large alcohol manufacturing plant in Baramati, believed to be linked to his associates, has become the focus of this debate. Industry experts and opposition leaders have questioned the appropriateness of Pawar leading the committee, suggesting it may benefit his close network. Attempts to seek a response from Pawar were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The new policy is expected to increase the number of retail liquor shops by 19 per cent across the state. Currently, Maharashtra has 1,713 licensed liquor outlets, a number that has remained unchanged since the 1970s. A previous attempt to increase licences was rolled back due to opposition from prominent socialist leaders like N D Patil and Mrinal Gore. Under the revised rules, liquor shop licences can now be leased. While purchasing an old license costs nearly Rs 10 crore in the open market, the new licenses will be available for a non-refundable deposit of Rs 1 crore, with the state earning approximately Rs 35 crore annually through licence fees. Compared to neighbouring states, where there are around six liquor shops per one lakh population, Maharashtra has only about 1.5 per lakh. Other Indian states have seen a consistent 3 per cent annual increase in wine shops, whereas Maharashtra has kept the sector stagnant. 'Given the state's geography and population, increasing the number of outlets is both reasonable and necessary,' Dr Rajgopal Deora, Additional Chief Secretary of the Excise Department, told The Indian Express.
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Indian Express
Maharashtra ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme: Over 2,289 women govt employees availed benefits illegally
The Maharashtra Women and Child Development (WCD) Department has identified 2,289 women state government employees who enrolled for the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme and illegally availed its benefits despite being ineligible, WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare said on Friday. According to official sources, the total amount availed illegally by the women is estimated at around Rs 3 crore and the state government is likely to recover the money from them. 'Verification of beneficiaries is a standard and ongoing process in the implementation of any scheme, and it is being strictly followed in the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. During verification conducted around January–February, we found that 2,289 government employees had enrolled for the scheme. Since then, no benefits have been distributed to these employees. We remain committed to ensuring that the scheme benefits only the rightful beneficiaries, and this verification process will continue on a regular basis,' Tatkare said. The revelation came after the WCD department launched a comprehensive verification process of beneficiary applications in recent months. The General Administration Department (GAD) collaborated by sharing data of state government employees with the Information Technology Department for cross-verification. During this exercise, data from around two lakh applications was scrutinised via the Sevaarth system. As per the scheme's eligibility criteria, government employees are explicitly barred from receiving benefits. However, verification revealed that 2,289 women government employees had not only registered but also received financial assistance under the scheme. Launched in July 2024, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana aims to empower women by providing Rs 1,500 per month to eligible beneficiaries. The scheme is intended for women whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.
