Review of Ladki bahin scheme should be based on complaints, says Aditi Tatkare

Aditi Tatkare (file photo)

MUMBAI: Former Minister for Women and Child Affairs Aditi Tatkare denied reports that Mahayuti Govt will recheck all applications under Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojanawhich was one of the key schemes that helped the ruling Mahayuta return to power in the state.
“It is impossible to consider 2.5 million beneficiariesand they too have been taking this benefit for the past five months. If there are any specific complaints in the future, the government can conduct a probe,” Tatkare said.
“During my tenure there were no complaints about irregularities in the scheme. I am not aware whether complaints were received during the model code of conduct,” said Tatkare, who is now an MLA.
So far, 2.3 crore women have received scholarships under the scheme, which targets indigent women between the ages of 18 and 65 with an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh and residing in the state. The stipend is 1,500 rubles per month.
So far, five scholarships worth Rs 7,500 have been awarded to the beneficiaries.
Ever since the scheme was announced, there have been concerns about how the strapped government will be able to fund the scheme, which is estimated to cost Rs 46,000 crore a year. If the state fulfills Mahayuti’s promise to increase the stipend from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, then the cost of the program will skyrocket.
Soon after taking the oath, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that if there are reports of beneficiaries who have gone beyond the parameters of the scheme, a thorough investigation will be conducted.
“We received some complaints that benefits were received by those who were outside the parameters of the scheme. For example, when the Krishi Samman Yojana was launched, there were complaints that some wealthy farmers were taking advantage of the scheme. Then they voluntarily abandoned the scheme and it settled down,” said Fadnavis.
“Similarly, if some of them are outside the parameters Scheme Ladki Bakhin received benefits, then there will be a re-check. But there is no large-scale rethinking,” he said. He also said that the issue of increasing the stipend to Rs 2,100 per month would be taken up in the budget session of the state assembly in March after a review financial resources state
The opposition criticized the government for carefully considering the applications. “The government came back to power with the Ladka Bahin Yojana, but now that the elections are over, they don’t seem to need these women anymore. Ladki Bahin thread is over. Within two days of the government’s swearing-in, the ‘beloved brother’ got back assets worth Rs 1,000 crore,” state Congress chief Nana Patole said.
He was referring to the Benami Appellate Tribunal giving permission to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for his properties worth Rs 1,000 crore, soon after he was sworn in.