Mumbai: Indicating a tighter scrutiny of the Mahayuti govt’s flagship Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Monday admitted in the state assembly that several beneficiaries who were financially well-off received the stipend, and now the scheme will be “corrected” to only cover poor women.
“In the hurry and confusion, some sisters with a good economic condition got included in the list. The scheme is meant only for women from poor families,” said Pawar. “Sometimes, once a scheme is introduced, it needs corrections. We will be making corrections. But we will not take back the money from those who received it.” He pointed out that even Prime Minister Modi appealed to the public to exit Central schemes if they no longer fit the criteria.
Pawar emphasised that the scheme would not be shut down. “We will provide enough funds for the scheme. And poor women will 100% receive the money,” he added.
Pawar also confirmed reports that a portion of the over 40% hike in the annual plan for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes outlay in the annual plan would be used for the Ladki Bahin scheme. Social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat alleged that nearly Rs 10,000 crore from the social justice and tribal welfare department was diverted to the Ladki Bahin scheme. “In the annual plan, the allocation for the SC component has risen 42% and the tribal component programme by 40%. Even after excluding the Ladki Bahin outlay, the rise is 18% and 19%,” Pawar told the assembly.
He further said that the Ladki Bahin scheme could be linked to loan programmes given the enormous quantum of Rs 45,000 crore that it placed in the hands of women. “The Mumbai bank, led by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, has already announced that those who open their Ladki Bahin accounts there will be eligible for a loan of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000,” the deputy CM said.
Pawar defended the govt’s Rs 9.3 lakh crore debt and revenue deficit of Rs 45,892 crore, by saying this was within the fiscal limit. “Only Maharashtra, Orissa, and Gujarat have managed to keep these parameters within the fiscal limit,” he said. He pointed out that the fiscal deficit was less than 3% of GSDP and the loan was less than 25% of GSDP. RBI’s risk analysis concluded that Maharashtra had healthy fiscal indicators, he added.
Pawar further said govt focused on infrastructure schemes, like the Wadhawan port project where it was considering building an airport. “Some countries have built an airport in the sea. Such ideas are worth considering if it does not impact the environment.”
Mumbai: Indicating a tighter scrutiny of the Mahayuti govt’s flagship Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Monday admitted in the state assembly that several beneficiaries who were financially well-off received the stipend, and now the scheme will be “corrected” to only cover poor women.
“In the hurry and confusion, some sisters with a good economic condition got included in the list. The scheme is meant only for women from poor families,” said Pawar. “Sometimes, once a scheme is introduced, it needs corrections. We will be making corrections. But we will not take back the money from those who received it.” He pointed out that even Prime Minister Modi appealed to the public to exit Central schemes if they no longer fit the criteria.
Pawar emphasised that the scheme would not be shut down. “We will provide enough funds for the scheme. And poor women will 100% receive the money,” he added.
Pawar also confirmed reports that a portion of the over 40% hike in the annual plan for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes outlay in the annual plan would be used for the Ladki Bahin scheme. Social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat alleged that nearly Rs 10,000 crore from the social justice and tribal welfare department was diverted to the Ladki Bahin scheme. “In the annual plan, the allocation for the SC component has risen 42% and the tribal component programme by 40%. Even after excluding the Ladki Bahin outlay, the rise is 18% and 19%,” Pawar told the assembly.
He further said that the Ladki Bahin scheme could be linked to loan programmes given the enormous quantum of Rs 45,000 crore that it placed in the hands of women. “The Mumbai bank, led by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, has already announced that those who open their Ladki Bahin accounts there will be eligible for a loan of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000,” the deputy CM said.
Pawar defended the govt’s Rs 9.3 lakh crore debt and revenue deficit of Rs 45,892 crore, by saying this was within the fiscal limit. “Only Maharashtra, Orissa, and Gujarat have managed to keep these parameters within the fiscal limit,” he said. He pointed out that the fiscal deficit was less than 3% of GSDP and the loan was less than 25% of GSDP. RBI’s risk analysis concluded that Maharashtra had healthy fiscal indicators, he added.
Pawar further said govt focused on infrastructure schemes, like the Wadhawan port project where it was considering building an airport. “Some countries have built an airport in the sea. Such ideas are worth considering if it does not impact the environment.”