A Rs 1,500 monthly stipend for women. Three free LPG refills per annum.
Free pilgrimages for senior citizens. Free professional education for women from weaker sections. This is the basket of goodies that the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has announced for the people. But the motive is not lost on anyone. After a drubbing in this year's Lok Sabha election, where the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) won 31 out of the 48 parliamentary seats in the state, the ruling Mahayuti coalition is pulling out all the stops ahead of the assembly election due later this year.
The government unveiled eight major welfare schemes this year, including in the budget in June, targeting women, the elderly and the youth (see Poll-time Bonanza). The centrepiece is the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, offering women from indigent families a monthly dole of Rs 1,500. The Mahayuti regime is banking on this scheme, modelled on the BJP's successful Ladli Behna Yojana in Madhya Pradesh, to counter anti-incumbency and replicate the BJP's political gains in that state.
Shinde asserts that his government intends to continue with the Ladki Bahin and other schemes in perpetuity. "These are permanent schemes and have not been announced with an eye on the elections," he tells INDIA TODAY. "They [the Opposition] are sure that once the money comes into the accounts of the women, their politics will be in trouble. Those born with a golden spoon in their mouth will not understand the importance of Rs 1,500. The women can use this to buy clothes, toys, eatables and for the school fees of their children. Thus, this money will circulate in the economy." The move has ignited competition among rival parties. The Congress has pledged to raise the Ladki Bahin dole to Rs 2,000 per month if elected, while Shinde, seeking re-election, has promised to double it to Rs 3,000.
Esta historia es de la edición 30th September, 2024 de India Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición 30th September, 2024 de India Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Beware The New Big Con
Cyber Criminal Networks, Often Based Abroad, Are Now Leveraging Technological And Psychological Tools To Weave Elaborate Stings With Fake Cops And Enforcement Authorities To Deprive Unsuspecting Victims Of Their Entire Life Savings
A Cut Above the Rest
Oft ignored, the ceiling in a room is so much more than a necessity
THE GRAND STAND
This atypical bachelor pad for Delhivery's Sandeep Barasia is all about balancing art with form, aesthetics with functionality and materiality with context
50 SHADES OF WHITE
From ivory to ecru, TV actor Ankita Lokhande and reality TV star Vicky Jain's apartment in Mumbai is all about a fresh and clean feel
"GOOD DESIGN IS EFFICIENT, BEAUTIFUL AND PROBLEM SOLVING"
Known for creating thoughtfully crafted spaces, architect Jaskaran Singh takes us through the legacy he was born into
HITCHED AT HOME
From offbeat décor to eco-friendly design elements, an intimate wedding runs high on undeniable charm and unique sentiments
ROOM TO BLOOM
Bring wedding festivities indoors with flowers and hues that set the mood for this beautiful tablescape
THE RITE CHOICE
Move over heaven, well-designed and stylish marriages require the Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla touch. They share how to ace this space.
Twist on Tradition
Stylish storytelling, vibrant vistas, trendy textiles and modern magic, wedding decor is a beautifully crafted and personal tale today
TROUSSEAU TROVE
From preserved flowers to bountiful hampers, what you give the bride and groom will set the tone for their life ahead