Why is the Maha government reallocating funds for the Ladki Bahin Scheme?

Mumbai, May 3 (NationPress) In light of ongoing financial challenges, the Maharashtra government is facing difficulties in allocating the necessary funds to deliver a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

The state has reallocated Rs 410.30 crore from the Social Justice Department and Rs 335.70 crore from the Tribal Development Department to fulfill this monthly payment obligation.

A notification regarding this decision was released on Friday, which has drawn sharp criticism from the Social Justice Minister and Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Shirsat. He expressed that if the Social Justice Department is deemed unnecessary, it would be better to dissolve it altogether.

“I was unaware of the transfer of Rs 410.30 crore from my department until I learned about it through the media. If the Social Justice Department is not needed, perhaps it should be shut down,” he stated.

He further argued that the Finance Department is acting arbitrarily, emphasizing that legally approved funds for the Social Justice Department should not be reallocated or cut.

“You cannot simply transfer funds from my department to others; this is against the law. It is inappropriate to redirect funds without adhering to legal protocols. If those in the Finance Department feel clever, they should show me the regulations allowing such transfers, and then I will apologize. A beloved sister remains a beloved sister,” he remarked.

Describing the individuals in the Finance Department as “Shakuni” (a term referring to a cunning villain), the minister criticized their actions surrounding the fund transfers.

In addition, Ambadas Danve, the Leader of Opposition in the state council and Shiv Sena UBT leader, condemned the MahaYuti government for “diverting” funds for the Ladki Bahin Yojana, violating established guidelines.

“The government's treasury is nearly empty! From the approved Rs 3,960 crore for the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Rs 410.30 crore has been withdrawn. Similarly, from the Rs 3,420 crore allocated to the Tribal Development Department, Rs 335.70 crore was taken for the Ladki Bahin Yojana! This totals to Rs 746 crore siphoned from the Social Justice and Tribal Development Departments,” he asserted.

He further explained that, according to the Planning Commission's regulations, the funding allocated to both the Tribal Affairs and Social Justice departments should be proportionate to the community's population.

“These funds are meant to be utilized solely for their designated purposes and cannot be reallocated,” he added.

Vijay Wadettiwar, the Congress Legislature Party leader, also accused the MahaYuti government of diverting funds intended for women from the Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist categories for the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

“This shift means that other deserving individuals in the state will miss out on their benefits. Now that the funds have been redirected, the anger from the Social Justice Minister seems misplaced. Was this diversion done without the minister's knowledge? The government’s governance is questionable. It appears to be a charade, making decisions and then facing public backlash,” he commented.

Meanwhile, the government has begun transferring the financial aid of Rs 1,500 for April to the bank accounts of Ladki Bahin Yojana beneficiaries. However, there has been no indication regarding the timing of the May monthly aid.