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Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Maharashtra social justice dept reviews schemes to expand reach and boost funding
Mumbai, The Maharashtra Social Justice Department has launched a review of its existing welfare schemes and scholarships to widen their scope and financial allocations so that beneficiaries can be served better, a senior official said on Thursday. Some of the current schemes have become outdated or financially inadequate, prompting the need for detailed meetings to assess each initiative, the senior official told PTI. 'Many of our schemes, including scholarships, offer assistance that's no longer meaningful in today's context,' the official said. 'Take, for instance, the pre-matric scholarship for Scheduled Caste students – it provides just ₹150 . That amount hardly covers any real educational expenses. We are working on increasing such allocations so students can truly benefit,' the official said. The review extends beyond scholarships. Schemes tied to cooperative industrial units, tractor distribution, entrepreneurship promotion, and various development corporations under the department are also being reassessed to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness. When asked about the financial implications of this expansion, the official said, 'Our budget for 2025-26 has increased significantly—from ₹15,893 crore last year to ₹22,658 crore now. This ₹6,765 crore boost allows us to support more beneficiaries and improve the financial assistance offered under key schemes.' On whether the department could generate revenue like a few others in the state, the official said, 'The Social Justice Department is a welfare-oriented body. We do not have, nor should we be expected to have, revenue-generating mechanisms. Our role is to serve the underprivileged.' The official also said that a big chunk of the increased budget, about ₹3,960 crore of the ₹6,765 crore, will be transferred to the Women and Child Development Department to support the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana'. 'This money is specifically meant for Scheduled Caste women beneficiaries of the scheme, but the disbursement is routed through the WCD Department. It is our way of ensuring eligible women receive their monthly ₹1,500 assistance,' the official explained.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sena UBT slams govt over not hiking Ladki Bahin payment, to submit memorandum to collector
The Sena UBT Tuesday questioned the state government over not increasing the monthly amount under the Ladki Bahin scheme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 as promised before the state Assembly polls. The party's women's wing will meet the Mumbai Collector on Wednesday and submit a memorandum demanding to fulfill the promise of increasing payout under Ladki Bahin scheme. In a press conference on Tuesday, senior party leader and former BMC mayor Kishori Pednekar accused the state government of deceiving the public with grand announcements while lacking a concrete execution plan. 'You had a slogan, we had a plan,' said Pednekar. 'We can provide Rs 3,000 to women if needed, but why should we reveal our strategy when the government is looting the municipal corporation?' She said the ruling alliance had promised to raise the monthly payout under the Ladki Bahin Yojana from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. 'You admitted to this hike. When will you deliver it?' she asked. Pednekar said that the memorandum on Wednesday is expected to demand immediate clarity and timelines for fulfilling the Ladki Bahin scheme promises and call for swift action to conduct pending civic elections across Maharashtra. The Sena UBT's remarks came a day after Social Justice Department Minister Sanjay Shirsat said that the Maharashtra government cannot increase the payments under the Ladki Bahin scheme to Rs 2,100 due to 'financial burden'. Besides, the decision of the Finance Ministry to reallocate approximately Rs 400 crore from the Social Justice Department to fund the Ladki Bahin scheme had sparked criticism from both ruling allies and the opposition.
The Wire
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Says Govt Cannot Hike Payments Under Ladki Bahin Scheme
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Government Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Says Govt Cannot Hike Payments Under Ladki Bahin Scheme The Wire Staff 3 minutes ago Launched in July 2024, the Ladki Bahan Yojana provides Rs. 1,500 per month to women whose annual family income doesn't go beyond Rs. 2.5 lakh. Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. Photos: Official X accounts. New Delhi: Five months after winning the Maharashtra elections largely on the plank of schemes for underprivileged women like the Mukyamatri Maji Ladki Bahin Yojana, the Mahayuti government's social justice minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat has said that the state government can't hike the payments under the scheme to Rs. 2,100 from the existing Rs. 1,500 as promised ahead of the assembly polls due to 'financial burden'. As per an Indian Express report, Shirsat said at a press conference in Mumbai on May 5, 'It is a fact that the payout under the Ladki Bahin scheme cannot be increased to Rs 2,100 due to the financial burden on the Finance Department. However, this does not mean that the scheme will be scrapped. It will continue, and the government will fulfil its promise.' Since May 3, this is the second time the Shiv Sena leader from deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde's camp has openly complained about paucity of funds related to this scheme and pointed fingers at the finance ministry led by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar. This past May 3, Shirsat had criticised the state finance department for diverting funds worth Rs. 400 crores approximately from his ministry which was meant for the scheme. He had then told reporters, 'I was not even informed that around Rs 400 crore (410 crores) 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.' Friction between Shinde and Pawar camps Shirsat, who last month, had opposed the move to divert money from his department, had called it 'high-handedness by the finance department'. Without naming Pawar, he had told reporters that a 'Shakuni' (equivalent to a clever traitor) was involved in taking the decision to divert the funds from his ministry. On May 6 too, the Shiv Sena leader trained guns at the state finance department to express dissatisfaction at lack of funds, 'I currently have outstanding dues of nearly Rs 3,000 crore. I had requested the chief minister about a month ago to consider the needs of my department empathetically and to ensure that the rightful funds are released as per the rules. I have also communicated this in writing and spoken to Ajit Dada as well.' Reacting to Shirsat's comment at the press conference, senior NCP leader and state minister Hasan Mushrif said, 'Where will Ajit dada bring money from? The sky? He is not taking the money home, the money is going (that is being diverted) for the Ladki Bahin scheme. Calling names for a senior leader is not good.' Even during the earlier Udhav Thackeray-led government, when the Shinde camp had rebelled against the party, 'Shinde and his Sena MLAs had claimed that they were frustrated due to Ajit Pawar not giving funds to their ministries,' pointed out the Economic Times. Prior to Shirsat, yet another Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik had also spoken against Pawar-led finance ministry 'for only paying half the salaries of the state transport employees', the ET report underlined. Launched in July 2024, the Ladki Bahan Yojana provides Rs. 1,500 per month to women whose annual family income doesn't go beyond Rs. 2.5 lakh. In the 2024 assembly elections, the Mayayuti alliance had promised to hike the monthly amount to Rs. 2,100 which was being widely looked at as a game changer in those polls. However, in March 2025, when the Mahayuti government led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devender Fadnavis announced its first budget, it stayed silent on the promise. On asked, chief minister Fadnavis had then said that his government 'is working on delivering the increased payouts'. He had then said, 'Funds have been allocated based on previous trends. If we determine that an increase is feasible, we will fulfil our promise.' On May 6, reacting to Shirsat's comment, the NCP leader Mushrif said that it has nothing to do with Shiv Sena but diversion of funds is happening all across departments because the scheme is taking a huge toll on the state's exchequer. As per an August 2024 news report, the state government, which had begun receiving applications for the scheme from July 4 2024 onwards, had found 1.3 crore applicants from the 1.4 crore received to be eligible for the scheme. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Maharashtra Government Reduces Ladki Bahin Yojana Stipend For 8 Lakh Beneficiaries: Report Maharashtra: Amid Exodus of Tourists From Kashmir, Mahayuti Allies Race to Claim Credit For Bringing Them Home Maharashtra Language Consultation Committee Chairperson Writes to Fadnavis Opposing Hindi Imposition In Maharashtra, No Chief Minister Yet, But a Date, Time and 'Important Guest' for the Swearing in After Facing Criticism, Maharashtra Govt Reverses Decision to Make Hindi Mandatory as Third Language Delhi Polls: The Battle to Appropriate Ambedkar as Dalit Votes Become Key in AAP-BJP Showdown In Post-Election Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar Is the Leader to Watch Bombay HC Offers Kunal Kamra Relief as Madras HC Protection Ends Maharashtra: CM Post Continues to Hang in Balance, Shinde Says Decision to Be Made in Mumbai View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Payment under Ladki Bahin scheme can't be hiked to Rs 2,100, says Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat amid fund diversion row
Expressing dissatisfaction over the diversion of funds from his ministry by the Finance Ministry led by NCP's Ajit Pawar, Shiv Sena leader and Social Justice Department Minister Sanjay Shirsat asserted Monday that the Maharashtra government cannot increase the payments under the Ladki Bahin scheme to Rs 2,100 as promised. The Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched in July 2024, provides Rs 1,500 per month to women whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh. During the Assembly elections, Mahayuti leaders had promised to raise this amount to Rs 2,100, which was considered instrumental in helping the alliance come to power. 'It is a fact that the payout under the Ladki Bahin scheme cannot be increased to Rs 2,100 due to the financial burden on the Finance Department. However, this does not mean that the scheme will be scrapped. It will continue, and the government will fulfil its promise,' said the minister who is part of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. He expressed displeasure with the Finance Ministry, claiming that over Rs 400 crore has been diverted from his department to fund the scheme. This marks the first time a minister from the ruling alliance has publicly admitted that the government is currently unable to fulfil its election promise with regard to the Ladki Bahin scheme. Shirsat's discontent stems from the Finance Ministry's decision to reallocate approximately Rs 400 crore from the Social Justice Department to fund the Ladki Bahin scheme. He criticised this move as illegal, stating that funds designated for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities cannot be diverted for other purposes. '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,' he had said on Saturday. The Finance Ministry's action has sparked criticism from within the ruling alliance and the Opposition. Terming the fund diversion an 'economic crisis', Opposition leaders said it was an injustice to SC and ST communities. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Jayant Patil stated, 'The funds allotted for SCs and STs are given as per the Constitution. Despite this, the money is being diverted.' In March, during the first state budget presented by this government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, no announcement was made regarding the anticipated increase in the payout of the Ladki Bahin scheme. Asked about the promise, Fadnavis had then said, 'We are working on delivering the increased payout of Rs 2,100. But while presenting the budget, it is important to maintain financial discipline to keep the scheme sustainable. Funds have been allocated based on previous trends. If we determine that an increase is feasible, we will fulfil our promise.' He confirmed that beneficiaries would continue receiving Rs 1,500 in April. Besides highlighting the challenges faced by the Mahayuti government in balancing its electoral promises with fiscal responsibilities, the controversy also sheds light on the increasing discord between the NCP and Shiv Sena.
India Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Maharashtra minister slams Ajit Pawar over diversion of social justice funds
Maharashtra's Social Justice Minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Saturday lashed out at Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, alleging that Rs 413 crore was diverted from the Social Justice Department without any prior consultation or approval."If the government doesn't need the Social Justice Department, it should shut it down. But don't cripple the funds meant for the socially backward classes," Shirsat said, addressing reporters. He accused the finance department of acting unilaterally and described its actions as "high-handed".advertisementThe minister claimed that this was not the first time funds had been diverted without notice. He recalled that earlier, Rs 7,000 crore from his department's allocation had also been shifted by the finance ministry without informing him. He questioned the intent behind such repeated decisions and demanded accountability. "I have no clue about the reasons behind the diversion of funds. This is injustice," Shirsat said. Shirsat added that he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and also with his party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He alleged that the finance department was deliberately weakening the department responsible for the welfare of backward remarks by Shirsat have the potential to escalate tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress to the allegations, Ajit Pawar said the issue should have been handled internally within the cabinet and not brought into the public domain. "There was no need to make this an external matter. If required, I will discuss it with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and Minister Sanjay Shirsat," Pawar said when asked about the also said that a cabinet meeting is scheduled for May 6, where the issue can be addressed. He indicated that if there had been any mistake, it would be corrected, and if any misunderstanding existed, efforts would be made to resolve Watch
