Latest news with #MajhiLadkiBahin
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Congress slams Shinde for backing Kadam: ‘Which version of Hindutva allows dance bars'
A day after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde extended support to his party colleague and Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam, who has been facing flak over connections with a dance bar, opposition Congress Monday questioned whether Shinde's Hindutva allows running dance bars. 'How can Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde justify supporting a dance bar? For someone who claims to uphold the ideals of Hindutva, in which version of Hindutva does making girls dance in bars find a place?' asked state Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal. On Sunday, speaking at a public function at Khed in Ratnagiri, Shinde had come out in support of Kadam saying not only him but the entire party stands firmly with Yogesh Kadam. 'It is wrong to demand resignation (of Kadam). The entire party and myself stand firmly with Yogesh Kadam. Those who themselves are buried under the mud of corruption are attacking others,' Shinde had said. Kadam had landed in controversy after a dance bar named Sawali in Kandivali was being operated under a licence held by his mother. 'Shinde shamelessly defended a minister who is linked to a dance bar This is the height of brazenness. If not for public decency, at least have some conscience,' said Sapkal. Sapkal said, 'On one hand, they claim to be brothers to their beloved sisters benefited under Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, and on the other hand, they support dance bars that shatter those very sisters' lives—how can they do this with a straight face? Minister Yogesh Kadam must be dismissed from the cabinet.' Meanwhile, Sena leader Sheetal Mhatre slammed Sapkal saying he should not dare to talk ill about Shinde. 'Sapkal should avoid making such unsubstantiated allegations. His words have no truth and if he keeps on making such statements then he will face the wrath of Shiv Sena's women wing,' said Mhatre.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra: No number of ST beneficiaries, funds given based on percentage in population
The state government does not have an exact figure of Majhi Ladki Bahin beneficiaries from the Scheduled Tribe community and the amount disbursed from the ST sub-plan is based on the percentage of ST community in the total population. The Women and Child Welfare department informed this to the Tribal Development department. In July, the Tribal Development minister Ashok Uike had sought information about the exact number of ST beneficiaries benefitting from the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme from the Women and Child Development department following release of Rs 335.70 crore from the ST funds for the fiscal 2025-26. The department in its reply said, 'The total percentage of Scheduled Tribe community in the total population is 9.35 per cent. The Women and Child Development department did not seek information of caste of the beneficiaries of Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme while filling the application form.' The reply stated that the amount made available from the budget provisions is based on the percentage of the ST population in the total population. In May, the state government sanctioned Rs 410.30 crore from the Scheduled Caste Sub plan and Rs 335.70 crore from Scheduled Tribe sub plan for the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. A source from the Women and Child Development department said that no record of caste was collected while filling the application form for the scheme. 'The scrutiny process of the scheme is still underway. We have also sought a response from the Income Tax Department about the number of beneficiaries who pay taxes. Once indentified, names of all those women whose family pay taxes will be deleted,' said the source.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
No plan to give loans to beneficiaries of Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme: Maharashtra minister Aditi Tatkare
Months after Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced that beneficiaries of the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme would be eligible for bank loans to start small businesses, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare on Thursday informed the state Assembly in a written reply that there is no such plan at the moment. The reply also remained silent on the ruling alliance's promise of increasing the monthly payout under the scheme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. The written reply was to questions raised by MLAs from both ruling and opposition sides. 'Under the scheme, there is a provision to provide financial benefit of Rs 1,500 per month to eligible beneficiary women. In the financial year 2025-26, a budgetary provision of Rs 28,290 crore has been made for the general category, Rs 3,240 crore for the tribal category under the Tribal Development department and Rs 3,960 crore for the Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist category under the Social Justice and Special Assistance department. Accordingly, the funds made available have been distributed to pay financial benefits to eligible beneficiary women,' said the reply. The department accepted that under the scheme, 2,289 women state government employees benefited. 'Their benefits have been discontinued,' Tatkare said in her written reply. In May this year, Pawar had said the government was exploring partnerships with cooperative and regional banks to facilitate these loans. 'District cooperative banks can give Rs 30,000-40,000 loan to my sisters which can be the capital to start a small business. And Rs 1,500 every month will get deposited in these banks every month which will repay the loan amount,' Pawar had said at a programme in Nande district's Mukhed. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too had said the state government was working to ensure the financial aid provided under it brings gainful benefits to beneficiaries. 'The state government is working to ensure financial aid brings gainful benefits to beneficiaries. The scheme will be implemented effectively,' the CM had said. Replying to a question about the details of the scheme announced by Pawar, the minister in her written reply said that no such plan is on the cards at present. The 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', the flagship scheme of the previous Eknath Shinde-led government, was formally launched in August last year. Under the scheme, eligible below poverty line women get financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month through direct benefit transfer (DBT).
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme: State to ink MoU with I-T dept to access info of women beneficiaries having taxpayers in their families
The state women and child development department is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Income tax department to exchange data and get details of women beneficiaries who received monetary benefits under the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, despite a member of their family being a taxpayer. The MoU will also include a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect the identity of taxpayers and associated information. 'There will be an exchange of information between the Income Tax department and the state government. It is important that the information shared needs to be protected and not disclosed. Hence the agreement will be signed,' said an official from the women and child development department. The state government launched the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme on June 28, 2024, whereby Rs 1500 is deposited per month in the accounts of women beneficiaries who are below poverty line. Around 2.4 crore women are currently beneficiaries of this scheme. One of the criterion of this scheme was that none of the family members of the women beneficiaries should be income taxpayers. The scheme, which was launched ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, had come under scrutiny after reports of a number of ineligible beneficiaries being enrolled emerged. The state women and child development department was in talks with the Union Finance ministry for the share of data of taxpayers to intensify the scrutiny process. After getting the clearances from the top, the move to share data has begun. The department will sign an MoU with the Income Tax department for the same, whereby terms and conditions of the sharing of data of taxpayers will be decided. The NDA will be an important part of the process to avoid any leak. The women and child development department has been scrutinising the list since January. During a scrutiny last month, around 2,200 beneficiaries of the scheme were found to be government employees. In February, around five lakh women were found ineligible for the scheme. A cumulative sum of Rs 450 crore has been transferred into the bank accounts of the ineligible beneficiaries.
Hindustan Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bawankule meets sulking Shirsat amid funds diversion controversy
Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday called on social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat to pacify him after the Shiv Sena leader expressed unhappiness over the diversion of funds from his department towards the populist Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, according to people aware of the developments. Bawankule and Shirsat, however, insisted that they met to discuss a project in Kamathi, Nagpur. Bawankule visited Shirsat's official bungalow in Mumbai on Wednesday morning, according to people in the know. Shirsat, a Dalit leader, had earlier accused the Ajit Pawar-led state finance department of high-handedness for diverting funds from his department, meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and other underprivileged sections of society, towards the Ladki Bahin scheme without his knowledge. He is also unhappy about corruption charges levelled against him, as he believes the information is being provided to the Opposition from within the government to defame him. Against this backdrop, Bawankule's visit to Shirsat's residence assumes significance and is being seen as an attempt to ensure cordial relations between the BJP and Shiv Sena. The state BJP chief, however, said that the meeting was to seek the social justice department's contribution for the makeover of Dragon Palace, a Buddhist temple in Kamathi, Nagpur. Bawankule said the state government has allocated ₹214 crore for the makeover, and the ground-breaking ceremony for the work will soon take place. 'I had come to meet the social justice minister to seek his cooperation,' he said. Shirsat also said that he and Bawankule did not discuss any political matter. 'I had been inviting him to my house for a cup of tea as we share friendly relations. I have assured him full support for the makeover of Dragon Palace,' he said. Shirsat claimed he was not upset over the diversion of funds from his department, adding that he discussed the issue with finance minister Ajit Pawar during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Bawankule said that the Mahayuti government cannot even think of diverting funds meant for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. According to the BJP insiders, the renovation of Dragon Palace is important for the party as it was trailing in the Assembly polls in Kamathi city by 17,000 votes. Bawankule represents the Kamathi constituency and is pushing the renovation project ahead of the upcoming local body polls. 'Kamathi city, where the project is located, is dominated by Dalit votes, and the visit to the residence of Shirsat, who is a Dalit leader, has political symbolism,' the leader said.
