Mumbai, Oct 6 – Maharashtra’s Food and Civil Supply Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Monday that the state’s big people‑protection scheme, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, is throwing the budget into chaos.
Bhujbal told reporters that roughly ₹40,000‑45,000 crore is being spent on the program, and the money is coming out of pockets that should be used for other vital services. “If we have to pay for compensation to flood‑hit areas, we will be hard‑pressed to keep other schemes running,” he said.
The commercial partners as well as the public declared that the state is hit with a run‑on fund crisis. Bhujbal highlighted a backlog of ₹84,000 crore in the Public Works Department and other agencies, saying that contractors are demanding payment but are still not delivering on projects. “Spending in this mode will only create deeper financial issues,” he warned.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched before last year’s Maharashtra assembly elections, promising to raise the monthly direct benefit transfer (DBT) for women below the poverty line from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100. With finances drying up, the state has yet to fulfil that pledge.
The minister’s comments come amid rumours that the Anandacha Shidha scheme – a festive‑season food‑distribution program that first ran in 2022 – might be paused. The Anandacha Shidha kits contain suji, chana dal, sugar, and soybean oil, and cost about ₹500 crore each time; they reach around 1.6 million families.
Another vital program, the Shiv Bhojan Thali, also faces cutbacks. Bhujbal said that only ₹70 crore is being allocated, but the scheme normally needs ₹140 crore to feed 200,000 people with a subsidised meal that includes chapatis, veg, dal, and rice for just ₹10. The cost of a Shiv Bhojan plate is 50 rupees in cities and 35 rupees in villages, with the government filling the shortfall.
The future of these social‑welfare schemes is uncertain, as the government wrestles with running costs, back‑log payments, and dealing with flood‑related compensation demands. The minister stopped short of saying when or if the programs would resume.
Source: ianslive
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