Cash assistance to women: Maharashtra joins 10 other states

Ahead of Assembly elections scheduled for later this year, the Maharashtra government of the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP combine has become the latest to announce a scheme for monetary assistance to women in the state every month.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who handles the finance portfolio, introduced the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme in the Budget Friday, under which Rs 1,500 will be transferred into the bank accounts of eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 every month beginning July 1. The scheme is expected to cost the Maharashtra government Rs 46,000 crore.

In March, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana in its Budget for 2024-25, under which every woman over 18 years will receive an honorarium of Rs 1,000 a month. The scheme will exclude taxpayers, beneficiaries of government pension schemes, and government employees.

At present, at least eight other states have cash transfer schemes for women.

Launched in September 2023 by Chief Minister M K Stalin, the scheme promises Rs 1,000 monthly for a woman above 21 years of age per family, provided the family’s annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh, it owns less than 5 acres of wetland and 10 acres of dry land and it consumes less than 3,600 units of power yearly.

This scheme provides Rs 15,000 per annum to “poor and needy mothers or recognized guardians” belonging to a BPL household. The newly-elected TDP-led NDA government has not made clear yet what it intends to do with the scheme. In its poll manifesto, the TDP had promised three free LPG cylinders to eligible beneficiaries per year, free bus travel for women, as well as Rs 1,500 per month to all eligible women in the age group of 19-59 years.

Through Orunodoi —