Sops for women, ryots: Will fresh schemes benefit NDA?

It is widely anticipated that state finance minister Ajit Pawar will announce some major benefits for farmers, women, SC/ST communities and minorities in the revised budget in the assembly.

- Rohit Chandavarkar

In the first session of this calendar year, Pawar had presented vote-on-account proposals of about Rs6.70 lakh crore. With the Lok Sabha polls over, he will now present the revised budget aimed at achieving political goals in the upcoming state assembly election.

The FPJ has learnt that Pawar may be presenting a special financial assistance scheme for women, broadly based on Madhya Pradesh's Ladli Behan Yojana, under which economically weaker sections are given Rs1,000 every month through direct bank transfer. It is learnt that in Maharashtra the amount perhaps would be higher. However, the question many are asking is whether it is too late for the BJP-led NDA to announce financial aid for farmers and women.