Ladki Bahin scheme monthly payout cannot be increased to Rs 2,100: Maharashtra minister

Maharashtra’s Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Monday said that the state government cannot increase monthly financial assistance to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme to Rs 2,100, as the ruling alliance had promised ahead of last year’s Assembly election, PTI reported.

However, he said that the current amount of Rs 1,500 per month will be disbursed.

This was the first time that a state minister has publicly acknowledged that the government will not be able to fulfil its poll promise relating to the scheme.

“It is a reality that the monthly amount of Rs 1,500 cannot be raised to Rs 2,100,” PTI quoted Shirsat, a member of the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena group, as saying. “But people make an issue out of it saying the scheme will be ended or the amount will be slashed. The commitment under the Ladki Bahin scheme will be fulfilled.”

Shirsat said that his ministry has outstanding dues of nearly Rs 3,000 crore, The Indian Express reported.

“I had requested the chief minister [Devendra Fadnavis] about a month ago to consider the needs of my department empathetically and to ensure that the rightful funds are released as per the rules,” he was quoted as saying. “I have communicated this in writing and spoken to [state...

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