Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Asserts No Fund Shortage for ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin’ Scheme

Mumbai : “There is no shortage of funds for the ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme, as Rs 35,000 crores have been allocated in the budget,” said Deputy Chief Minister and Finance and Planning Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar.

“The scheme, announced by me for the year 2024-25, has received an overwhelming response from mothers, sisters, and daughters in the state, with more than 1 crore applications filed online within a month.

Attempts are being made in the media to create a ‘fake narrative’ by spreading false and baseless news. The people, mothers, and sisters of the state will not fall victim to these attempts. They are with us and will remain so,” said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar today.

Some newspapers and news channels in the state have published reports such as ‘Finance Department’s opposition to Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ and ‘Where will funds for the scheme come from?’ Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has claimed that these reports are completely false, fabricated, inconsistent with facts, and spread for political purposes to create a ‘fake narrative.’ Elaborating further, he said, “As the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Finance and Planning of Maharashtra, I announced the ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme in this year’s Supplementary Budget 2024-25. The scheme was included in the state budget after approval from the finance and planning departments, concerned departments, and the state cabinet. The total amount of Rs 35,000 crores required for the remaining nine months of the current financial year has been provided in this year’s budget itself. Therefore, the question of where the money for the scheme will come from does not arise. It is feasible for a financially prosperous state like Maharashtra to allocate such an amount. The state government is ready to spend this amount for the economic independence, self-reliance, nutrition, and all-round empowerment of mothers, sisters, and daughters in the state, to enhance honor, dignity, and self-esteem,” he explained.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar further stated that the ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme is receiving immense response across the state. Government agencies, political, social, and volunteer organizations are organizing camps in cities and villages to collect applications. He noted that the response from beneficiary mothers and sisters in the villages during his travels over the past month has been overwhelming. He also alleged that fake news is being spread through various channels to undermine the scheme’s success.

While announcing any new scheme like the ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme, its implementation should be carried out effectively. The Finance Department aims to reduce administrative costs and allocate more funds to the beneficiaries. Some measures are suggested to achieve this. The opposition is attempting to create a ‘fake narrative’ by taking these instructions out of context, misinterpreting them, and spreading misunderstandings about the finance department and the state government in the media. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also stated that the wise people of the state will benefit from their efforts, and his mothers and sisters will not be misled about such an ambitious scheme.

There is no reason for anyone in the state, including the finance department, to oppose the ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.’ On the contrary, the Finance Department is committed to providing the required funds for this scheme. The news published in the media is fictitious, inaccurate, and politically motivated. Media should stop giving such negative news. I am confident that no one in the state will believe such news. He also appealed to everyone to make an effort to involve more and more sisters for the success of the ‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme.