Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Launches ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Behna’ Scheme for Women’s Financial Aid
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 18: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has introduced a new scheme called ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Behna’ just before the Raksha Bandhan festival. This scheme, launched on August 17, aims to provide financial assistance to women, helping them become more independent and self-reliant.
The scheme offers Rs 1,500 per month to women aged 21-65 with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh. CM Shinde mentioned that over one crore women in the state will benefit from this scheme. If there are two sisters in a family, they will receive Rs 3,000 per month.
The ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Behna’ scheme is inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ and aims to provide long-term financial support to women in need. Additionally, under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, eligible beneficiaries will receive three free gas cylinders per year.
CM Shinde also highlighted other initiatives for girls, including financial assistance from birth through their education. Girls will receive Rs 5,000 when they start school, Rs 6,000 in the 5th standard, Rs 7,000 in the 8th standard, and Rs 8,000 in the 11th standard. By the time they turn 18, they will have received Rs 1 lakh.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of education for girls, stating that the government will cover their fees for higher education to help them become doctors, lawyers, or engineers. He also mentioned the Berojgar Yojana, which provides class 12th students with a diploma degree and an internship, offering Rs 6,000-10,000 per month.
Addressing opposition allegations, CM Shinde assured that the government is not exceeding its financial limits and has allocated Rs 33,000 crore for women’s schemes and Rs 55,000-60,000 crore for youth programs. He stated that the government can take loans up to 25% of GDP and is currently at 17.5%, well within the limits.
CM Shinde guaranteed that the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Behna’ scheme will continue indefinitely and is not a temporary measure. He associated the scheme with the Raksha Bandhan festival, aiming to protect the interests of women in the state.
Doubts Revealed
Maharashtra -: Maharashtra is a state in the western part of India. It is known for its capital city, Mumbai, which is the financial hub of the country.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India.
Eknath Shinde -: Eknath Shinde is the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He is a politician who leads the state government.
Mukhyamantri Ladki Behna -: ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Behna’ is a new scheme launched by the Maharashtra government to help women financially. ‘Mukhyamantri’ means Chief Minister, and ‘Ladki Behna’ means girl sister in Hindi.
Financial Aid -: Financial aid means giving money to help people who need it. In this case, it is given to women to support them.
Rs 1,500 -: Rs 1,500 means 1,500 Indian Rupees. It is the amount of money women will get every month under this scheme.
Annual Income -: Annual income is the total amount of money a person earns in one year. For this scheme, women with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh are eligible.
Rs 2.5 lakh -: Rs 2.5 lakh means 250,000 Indian Rupees. It is the maximum annual income limit for women to be eligible for this scheme.
Madhya Pradesh -: Madhya Pradesh is another state in India. The ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ from this state inspired the new scheme in Maharashtra.
Ladli Behna Yojana -: ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ is a scheme from Madhya Pradesh that also provides financial help to women. ‘Yojana’ means plan or scheme in Hindi.
One crore -: One crore means 10 million. The scheme aims to help over 10 million women in Maharashtra.
Gas Cylinders -: Gas cylinders are used for cooking in many homes. The scheme also includes giving free gas cylinders to help women.
Educational Support -: Educational support means helping girls with their studies. This can include things like scholarships or free school supplies.
Indefinitely -: Indefinitely means for an unlimited period of time. The Chief Minister said the scheme will continue without an end date.
