Maharashtra's WCD Minister Denies Resistance to 'Ladki Bahin' Scheme, Cracks in Mahayuti

Aditi Tatkare said the initiative was launched keeping in mind the perspective of women's empowerment. (X/@iAditiTatkare)

Several news reports had claimed that the scheme, which will provide financial help of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the state, is facing opposition from the finance department

Maharashtra’s women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare has dismissed news reports claiming that the recently announced ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, which will provide financial help of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the state, is facing opposition from the finance department. The reports also suggested that the objections had exposed cracks within the Mahayuti alliance just before the state assembly polls.

Rubbishing the reports, Tatkare said on social media: “As the minister of the department, I would like to responsibly state that no objections were raised by the Finance Department headed by Hon. Ajit Dada Pawar after the scheme was announced. The state government led by Hon. Chief Minister Eknathji Shinde, DCM Devendra Fadnavis ji, and DCM Ajit Dada Pawar initiated this scheme after completing all procedures, keeping in mind the perspective of women’s empowerment. The state government has also provisioned the required funds for the execution of the scheme. However, such baseless news can create confusion amongst the beneficiaries.”

She further wrote, “As responsible media outlets, you are requested not to publish confusing news without verifying the same with the concerned department. If you need any information, I, as the minister of the department, am always ready to provide it. The Hon. CM Eknathji Shinde, Hon. DCM Devendra Fadnavis ji, and Hon. DCM Ajit Dada Pawar, along with the state government, will ensure that this scheme is a success and beneficial in empowering the women of Maharashtra.”

The scheme has been initiated by the state government on the lines of the ‘Ladli Behan’ initiative floated by the Madhya Pradesh government under Shivraj Singh Chouhan. In the recently held additional interim budget, deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar announced provision of Rs 1,500 financial help to eligible women in the state. The scheme is being seen as a game-changer and has given hope to Mahayuti to perform well in the upcoming state assembly polls, especially after the debacle in the recently held Lok Sabha elections.

More than one crore women in the state have filed applications under the scheme in just one month’s time, with five lakh women filling up applications daily. Sources said the maximum applications have been received from Pune district, followed by Thane and Ahmednagar. Further, sources within the department said 60 per cent of the applications were filed by married women. The list of eligible beneficiaries will be displayed publicly once the scrutiny process is completed.