Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai
Mumbai, Mar 12: The opposition parties launched a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti government on Tuesday, accusing it of failing to fulfill pre-election promises, including the much-publicized increase in the monthly Ladki Bahin payout from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. The government also faced criticism for scrapping welfare schemes such as Anandacha Shidha, initiated during the previous Eknath Shinde-led administration.
During the Maharashtra budget debate, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Bhaskar Jadhav pointed out that the budgetary allocation for the Ladki Bahin scheme had significantly dropped from Rs 46,000 crore last year to Rs 36,000 crore this year. “This reduction clearly indicates a drastic cut in the number of beneficiaries. Reports suggest that around 0.9 million names have already been removed, and this figure could rise to 5 million,” he claimed.
Interestingly, the Mahayuti government also faced criticism from within its ranks. NCP MLA and former minister Chhagan Bhujbal raised concerns over the lack of provisions for existing welfare schemes, blaming excessive expenditure on Ladki Bahin and similar initiatives. He also highlighted pending subsidies for the Shiv Bhojan Thali and under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar accused the government of completely discarding previously announced initiatives. “Apart from reneging on the Ladki Bahin payout, there is no budgetary allocation for last year’s announced schemes such as 1,000 pink auto-rickshaws for women drivers, the Annapurna scheme providing three free gas cylinders to underprivileged families, or the Rs 1 crop insurance for farmers,” he pointed out.
NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil questioned the transparency of the government’s financial planning. “There is no clarity on budgetary allocations for ongoing schemes. Reports suggest that funds meant for social justice initiatives, particularly scheduled caste allocations, have been diverted to the Ladki Bahin scheme,” he alleged. Patil also criticized the state’s declining growth rate, stating that even Gujarat had surpassed Maharashtra in per capita income.
He further questioned the Mahayuti government’s ambitious claims of transforming Maharashtra into a $1-trillion economy within five years. “To achieve this, the state would need a growth rate of over 14%, whereas the current rate is only 7.3%,” he pointed out.
As the debate on the budget continues, the opposition is expected to intensify its scrutiny of the government's economic policies and welfare commitments.