Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Money distributed to women under the Maharashtra government’s flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana will not be reclaimed even if it is found that they are ineligible recipients under the scheme, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday (January 223, 2025).
The scheme, introduced ahead of the 2024 State Assembly election, provides a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to women from poor households. The programme, which benefits over 2.43 crore women, costs the State exchequer approximately ₹3,700 crore each month.
Mr. Pawar’s assurance follows Opposition allegations that the government plans to reduce the number of beneficiaries, recover funds from ineligible recipients, and eventually scrap the scheme. Addressing these concerns, Mr. Pawar said: “During the initial rollout, we had limited time to verify beneficiaries’ documents. While the intention was to link Aadhaar numbers to the scheme, the process remains incomplete. However, no funds already disbursed will be recovered.”
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Pawar meets Pawar
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief, who belongs to the ruling Mahayuti alliance, made these remarks at an event in Pune, while sharing the stage with his uncle Sharad Pawar, who heads the rival NCP (SP), which is part of the Opposition alliance. The Ladki Bahin scheme has been credited as an important factor behind the Mahayuti’s electoral success last year, with pre-poll promises made to increase the monthly allowance to ₹2,100.
When asked about his meeting with Mr. Sharad Pawar, the Deputy CM said they had discussed issues related to the sugar industry, as well as the functioning of the Vasantdada Sugar Institute. “Departments such as agriculture, excise, cooperation, and power are intricately linked to the sugar sector. We deliberated on challenges in these areas,” he said.
Crop insurance misuse
Mr. Ajit Pawar reviewed the State Agriculture Department’s performance and raised concerns over the misuse of government welfare schemes. Citing the ₹1 crop insurance scheme, he noted, “Whenever schemes are launched for public benefit, some individuals try to exploit them. Similar misuse appears to have occurred with the crop insurance initiative.”
Earlier, Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate had pointed out irregularities in the crop insurance scheme, highlighting cases where places of worship had been falsely listed as agricultural lands to claim benefits.
Responding to reports of disagreements between the Shiv Sena and the NCP — both Mahayuti partners — over the appointment of district guardian Ministers, Mr. Ajit Pawar clarified that the decision lies with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP, their third partner. “Assigning district guardian Minister responsibilities is the CM’s prerogative. He will decide upon his return from Davos,” he said.
Published – January 23, 2025 03:37 pm IST
