Heartfelt Interaction Between Beloved Sisters of the State and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Before Raksha Bandhan

Mumbai : “From now on, I won’t call you Chief Minister, but brother…” “The amount credited was three thousand rupees…” “The money was deposited into my account faster than I expected. Before Raksha Bandhan, I received a gift…!” These are the sentiments expressed by sisters across the state to their “Chief Minister brother.” These heartfelt emotions moved Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who acknowledged the blessings and love of millions of sisters, saying, “The strength of your blessings is behind me.”

Starting yesterday (August 14th), the combined amount of two installments under the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (totaling three thousand rupees) began being deposited into the accounts of the state’s sisters. To date, around 80 lakh sisters have received the deposit. Today, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde interacted with these beneficiaries in a symbolic manner, where the sisters expressed their gratitude and affection, saying that they now have a new identity as the Chief Minister’s sisters.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his satisfaction at seeing the happiness on the faces of the sisters across the state. He assured them that this scheme is not just for elections; it is permanent. The Chief Minister conveyed this message to his sisters all over the state.

Chief Minister Shinde shared his happiness that the funds from the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana have been successfully deposited into the bank accounts of the sisters. He described this as a gift from a brother to his sisters, emphasizing that as the Chief Minister, he stands firmly behind them. He noted that this financial assistance is not just for the sisters themselves but is also a valuable gift to their families. He encouraged the sisters to use the money for their children’s school supplies, medicines, or to expand their ongoing small businesses. Women, he said, know very well how to manage households, and through this scheme, the government has worked to strengthen their hands. By using this scheme to grow their businesses, the sisters will also strengthen the economy, create employment opportunities, and contribute to women’s empowerment. The government is committed to empowering women, having launched 108 schemes specifically for them, according to the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Shinde also highlighted the close relationship formed with the sisters through this scheme. The government is doing everything possible for the common man, the weak, the poor, farmers, senior citizens, youth, and workers. When the beneficiaries receive the benefits of these schemes, it validates the government’s work. The government is also empowering savings groups through the ‘Umed’ initiative for women’s empowerment. The loan limit for self-help groups has been increased to 20 lakhs, and efforts are being made to raise it to 50 lakhs with the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government has also decided to waive 100 percent of education fees for girls to ensure they are not deprived of education.

Furthermore, Chief Minister Shinde mentioned the implementation of the Chief Minister’s Youth Training Scheme, which is aimed at providing work for the state’s youth. This scheme will create skilled manpower, benefiting industries currently being established on a large scale in the state. Women have been given a 50 percent discount on ST travel, making the service more accessible. The government is also supporting workers and implementing public welfare schemes like the Vyoshree Yojana, Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, and Mukhyamantri Tirtha Darshan Yojana for senior citizens. While building infrastructure like roads and bridges is important, it is equally important to implement public welfare schemes, a commitment that the government is fulfilling.

Farmers have also benefited from the waiver of electricity bills for agricultural pumps, with 45 lakh agricultural pump holders receiving the benefit. Additionally, under the Namo Samman Yojana, the state government has added 6,000 rupees to the central government’s 6,000 rupees, providing farmers with a total of 12,000 rupees.

Chief Minister Shinde acknowledged that starting a scheme is not easy and does not happen overnight. The preparation for the Ladki Bahin Yojana began a year ago. The success of this scheme is due to the efforts of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, along with Additional Chief Secretaries and Secretaries of all departments. He congratulated all the officials for bringing the scheme to a district like Gadchiroli.

The government’s goal is to make women empowered and independent, and both the government and the administration are working tirelessly to achieve this, Chief Minister Shinde emphasized.