Reported By Vinod Jagdale
Maharashtra Ladli Behna Yojana: To finance the Ladli Behna Scheme, the Maharashtra Government has diverted a large amount of funds from two major departments – Tribal and Social Justice. In a move that has drawn significant attention, a total amount of Rs 745 crore has been diverted from the budgets of these two departments. The Scheme was launched to empower women and improve their standard of living by providing financial assistance.
Under the scheme, the distribution for the April installment began from 2nd May. According to News24 reporter Vinod Jagdale, the Maharashtra government redirected an amount of Rs 335 crore from the Tribal Department, while Rs 410 crore was withdrawn from the Social Justice Department to facilitate the scheme. However, this is not the first instance when funds have been released from these departments. In 2024-25, a reduction of Rs 4,000 crore had already been witnessed in the budget of the Tribal Department. Meanwhile, Rs 3,000 crore was cut from the Social Justice Department during the financial year.
This move has sparked a wave of questions about whether the government is spending on public welfare schemes at the cost of the welfare of socially backward and tribal communities. Many schemes of these departments, such as tribal hostels, scholarships, social security pensions, and educational assistance, are reportedly under strain due to limited resources. Experts believe that the Ladli Behna Yojana, which is a big step towards economic empowerment of women, can lead to social imbalance in the long run, if the budget continues to be cut from other welfare.
