Abhi toh party shuru hui hai!

Pointedly ignoring the barrage of negative comments on his 'Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana', Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a stipend for students on the occasion of Ashadhi Ekadashi on Wednesday, called 'Ladka Bhau Yojana', worth Rs 5,500 crore.

There is no income ceiling for this scheme. It comes together with another announcement, where approximately 1.7 crore families falling under 'Antyodaya' and orange and yellow ration card holders will get 'Anandacha Shidha' for a month, from August 15 to September 15, through the public distribution scheme (PDS).

The student stipend scheme, previously announced as the 'Mukhya Mantri Yuva Karya Prashikshan Yojna', will henceforth be known as the 'Ladka Bhau Yojana'. Under the scheme, students who have passed Class 12, will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000, while diploma students and graduates will receive Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 monthly respectively, for six-month internships.