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Maharashtra: ‘83% Of ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ Beneficiaries Are Married Women,’ Says Official Data

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Mumbai: Married women make up as many as 83 per cent of the beneficiaries of the Maharashtra government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, as per official data.

The scheme, which is supposed to have played a role in the BJP-led coalition’s victory in the November 2024 assembly elections, provides monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21 to 65 who are married, divorced, widowed, deserted, or destitute, and whose family income is below Rs 2,50,000 per year.

The benefit is also provided to one unmarried woman per family.

The scheme has, as of now, some 2.5 crore beneficiaries, though the government is now carrying out a scrutiny to omit those who are ineligible.

Data indicates that married women constitute 83 per cent while unmarried women constitute 11.8 per cent of the beneficiaries, a senior official said on Thursday.

Widows account for 4.7 per cent of beneficiaries, while `divorced, destitute or deserted’ women collectively make up less than 1 per cent of the cohort.

Divorced women account for 0.3 per cent, deserted women 0.2 per cent, and destitute women for 0.1 per cent of beneficiaries.

The highest 29 per cent of beneficiaries are from the 30-39 age group, followed 25.5 per cent from 21-29 age group and 23.6 per cent from 40-49 age group.

Women aged 60 to 65 account for only five per cent of beneficiaries.

Pune district has recorded the highest number of applications for the scheme, followed by Nashik and Ahmednagar. On the other hand, Sindhudurg and Gadchiroli districts have recorded the lowest number of applications.

The scheme was rolled out in July last year. Before the November elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena promised to increase the amount under the scheme to Rs 2,100 per month. After coming to power, the new Devendra Fadnavis-led government said the promise would be kept, and an announcement to this effect is expected in the coming Budget.

After coming to power, the new Mahayuti government ordered a review to remove ineligible recipients. So far, five lakh beneficiaries have been excluded, with officials estimating that the number could rise to 15 lakh.

Women owning four-wheelers, those in government employment or those already receiving benefit exceeding Rs 1,500 from other schemes would be disqualified.

At the time of its launch, the scheme was said to cost the state exchequer Rs 46,000 crore annually.

It has also faced allegations of fraud and political manipulation.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday accused the government of misleading women voters by rolling out the scheme before the elections and slashing the number of beneficiaries after coming to power.

“The government distributed funds to women as an incentive to get votes. After assuming office (after the elections), it imposed various conditions that have significantly reduced the number of eligible beneficiaries,” he said.

The Fadnavis government intends to reduce the number of beneficiaries by as much as 25 per cent, the Congress leader claimed, calling it a betrayal of voters.

Maharashtra

Shiv Sena wave in North Maharashtra, Dr. Shrikant Shinde takes charge of election campaign

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Mumbai Nandurbar: Shiv Sena is on a wave in North Maharashtra. A large number of “Ladli Bheenas” and youth are participating in the rallies of Shiv Sena youth leader Dr. Shrikant Shinde. Dr. Shinde launched his election campaign in North Maharashtra today. Addressing the gathering, he said that the Mahayoti government has taken strong steps to empower women and youth, which is why Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana is becoming self-reliant. Attacking the opposition, he said that many opposition leaders were opposing the “Ladli Behna Yojana” but under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, this scheme was implemented and it will not be stopped under any circumstances. The opposition is only spreading confusion, Ladli Behna will respond with their votes. Dr. Shrikant Shinde explained that in the last three years, Shiv Sena has reached every corner of Maharashtra under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. Shinde Sahib is empowering his workers by holding eight meetings every day. He has an Urban Development Department, which has resulted in record-breaking funding for the backward villages of Maharashtra, paving the way for strong rural development.

Dr. Shrikant Shinde criticized UBT and said that some people are experts in criticizing, but they have never done any concrete work for the people. That is why today Mahayoti candidates are seen everywhere. The people are well aware of the state of the opposition.

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Maharashtra

Kalyan College Namaz Controversy: SIO Demands Action Against Perpetrators

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Mumbai: SIO has demanded strict action against the hooliganism of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on offering prayers in Mumbai’s Kalyan College. Here, State Secretary SIO Aziz Ahmed said that
The incident that took place at Ideal College of Pharmacy and Research in Kalyan is highly condemnable and unacceptable, where hooligans belonging to Bajrang Dal entered the college campus, threatened and harassed Muslim students for offering prayers and even tried to make them sit in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This incident is a direct attack on religious freedom and the sanctity of the educational campus.

SIO strongly condemns this incident and expresses complete solidarity with the affected students. We demand that strict action be taken against the accused at the earliest, the college administration ensure the safety of the students and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

We appeal to the entire student community to maintain religious harmony and remain united against such sectarian attitudes and demonstrate strong solidarity.

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Maharashtra

Five-year-old kidnapped girl rescued from Vakola, five arrested, girl held hostage by uncle in Panol

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Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested five accused, including uncle Momani, on charges of kidnapping a five-year-old girl. The gang had planned to kidnap and sell the girl. A case of kidnapping of a minor girl was registered on November 22 under the limits of Vakola police station. Several teams were formed in Zones 8 and 7. During the investigation, it was revealed that a suspicious rickshaw had gone to Panvel and returned. A man, a woman, a rickshaw driver and the girl were in the rickshaw between 2 and 3 am. The kidnappers were identified as the girl’s uncle Lawrence Niconelis Fernandes, 42, and his wife Momani, who is a Mangal degree, both of them had gone to Panvel by rickshaw and were going to sell the kidnapped girl. The kidnapped girl was recovered from the possession of their acquaintance Sans. The Sans gave details about the wanted accused during the investigation, after which Windra Dinesh Chavan, 60, and Anjali Ajit Korgaokar, 57, were arrested from New Panvel, Raigad. The kidnapped girl was sold for Rs 1,80,000 and Vrinda Chavan was taken into custody from her house and the girl was safely brought to Vakola. This operation was carried out by DCP Manish Kalwaniya on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and the girl was recovered safely. In this case, the police have arrested rickshaw driver Latif Abdul Majeed Sheikh, 52, a resident of Santa Cruz, Lawrence Nicholas Fernandes, 42, a laborer from Raigarh, Mangal Dagra Jadhav, 38, from Raigarh, Kiran Maruti Sons, 38, from Panvel, Vrinda Vanish Chavan, 60, from Raigarh and the investigation is underway.

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