Following the Lok Sabha election results, Maharashtra's Mahayuti government launched the Ladki Bahin scheme, which immediately faced opposition criticism. The scheme's popularity among women helped the Mahayuti win the election, partly due to their promise to increase the installment amount. However, the recent budget did not mention this increase, leading to renewed criticism from the opposition. Statements from leaders within the Shiv Sena Shinde group about the scheme's future are adding to the potential controversy.
The Ladki Bahin scheme currently provides Rs 1,500 to eligible women and promised an increase to Rs 2,100 if the Mahayuti was re-elected. The opposition is demanding a timeline for this increase, especially since the budget, presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, did not allocate funds for it.
Ramdas Kadam, a Shiv Sena Shinde group leader, added to the confusion by suggesting the scheme could be discontinued to fund ten other initiatives, citing budgetary limitations and the scheme's Rs 30,000 crore cost.
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The government has disqualified five lakh women from the scheme for not meeting the requirements but clarified that the Rs 9,000 already distributed to them will not be taken back. The review of applications to determine eligibility is still underway.