Provision of ₹25,000 Crores for Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Pune : State Deputy Chief Minister and District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar announced that a provision of ₹25,000 crores has been made for the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, benefiting sisters in the state from July.

Present at the announcement were Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Cooperation Minister Dilip Valse Patil, Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Dr. Neelam Gorhe, senior leader MP Sharad Pawar, MP Medha Kulkarni, Supriya Sule, Srirang Barne, Dr. Amol Kolhe, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase, and District Planning Officer Kiran Indalkar.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawar highlighted that 4,29,000 applications have been received in the district under the scheme. Benefits will be extended from July even for applications submitted in August. The scheme is expected to incur a monthly expenditure of approximately ₹3,500 crores, ensuring every eligible woman can benefit. Facilities have been set up in urban and rural areas to facilitate application submissions.

An employment fair is scheduled in Pune on July 27 under the Chief Minister’s Youth Employment Training Scheme, offering training and real work experience to youth, thereby enhancing their future employment prospects. Many industries have pledged cooperation, with assurances of permanent employment for successful trainees.

The meeting also addressed various issues, including pollution in district rivers and dams, with discussions planned with the Industries Minister and factory representatives. Notices will be issued for setting up sewage treatment plants in resorts around Pavana Dam, and measures will be taken to prevent sugar factories from releasing impure water into rivers.

Dengue prevention in urban and rural areas, provision of necessary manpower in primary health centers, and innovative anti-drone measures by police were also discussed. PMRDA will implement wastewater and waste management in the Khadakwasla Dam area. Deputy Chief Minister Pawar emphasized the importance of good quality sports equipment, particularly international quality mats for wrestling.

Pawar urged representatives to suggest development works not funded by central and state government schemes through the district annual plan.

Higher and Technical Education Minister Patil informed about the waiver of education fees for students across 642 courses, with a total expenditure of ₹1,800 crores. Fee reimbursement will be deposited in a separate bank account for the scheme by September, and colleges will appoint independent professors to coordinate and inform students about the scheme. Information about the plans will be provided to students in 6,000 colleges across the state on July 25.

Present at the meeting were MLAs Uma Khapre, Yogesh Tilekar, Amit Gorkhe, Dattatray Bharne, Dilip Mohite Patil, Adv. Ashok Pawar, Sunil Tingre, Chetan Tupe, Sunil Kamble, Sunil Shelke, Sangram Thopte, Madhuri Misal, Rahul Kul, Bhimrao Tapkir, Sanjay Jagtap, Siddharth Shirole, Atul Benke, Ravindra Dhangekar, Ashwini Jagtap, District Planning Committee Member, Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, Municipal Commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad Shekhar Singh, Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, PMRDA Commissioner Yogesh Mhse, and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Santosh Patil.

Discussions covered the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Chief Minister Yuva Karya Training Yojana, river pollution, fort conservation, Purandar and Janai Shirsai Yojana, police accommodation in Dehu and Alandi, leopard-prone areas, and manpower in primary health centers.

Approval of expenditure under District Annual Plan

In the District Planning Committee meeting chaired by Guardian Minister Pawar, the expenditure of ₹1,499 lakhs under the General District Annual Plan for 2023-24, ₹1,499 lakhs under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, and ₹51,110 crores under the Scheduled Castes Program was approved.

An outlay of ₹1,256 crore under the General District Annual Plan, ₹145 crore under the Scheduled Castes Upyojana, and ₹55.89 crore under the Tribal Component Program has been finalized for 2024-25. During state-level meetings, it was announced that an additional fund of ₹256.89 crore has been approved by the government for Pune district for 2024-25 compared to 2023-24.

Members were informed about various schemes including the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Chief Minister Vyoshree Yojana, Chief Minister Youth Work Training Scheme, Chief Minister Annapurna Yojana, and the 100% tuition fee waiver for college students in professional courses.