The State Finance Department’s worry on the expenditure of Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana has been refuted by the former finance minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mugantiwar in view of the state’s financial situation; he admitted that all files brought before cabinet meetings for decision making pass through the department.
On top of this, as many as one crore applications have already been received under this scheme which will cost ₹46,000 crores to the government per year. Similarly, it has also been worrying that state debts have escalated to 7.8 lakh crores. Allegedly, prior to the budgeting process, the department had expressed its misgivings to the government about this yojana. However it still got approved into law. The department further expresses concerns over. Maharashtra being in a very tight fiscal position with huge amounts of debts and introduction of new schemes will add up more pressure on them.
Mr. Mugantiwar who is also Minister of Forest justified this saying how viable. It is because it injects money into State economy. ”The finance department always talks about low funds but does that mean we stop initiating schemes? We have so many schemes like free education for girls, Sanjay Gandhi pension scheme among others, have we stopped them? Then what’s wrong? If 2.8 crore women receive financial assistance then it sort of becomes Diwali for them.”
Ahead of assembly polls announcement Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana has once again found itself in a hot spot following this and other criticisms from opposition ranks. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut called this yojana another “type of corruption” and “financial indiscipline” by our Government. No money in the kitty of State yet big schemes are announced to wow voters. Why disrespect women by allocating Rs 1500/- and giving some others Rs 6000/- when these are the ones. Who face inflation and run homes.
