Maharashtra Government Introduces Supplementary Demands of Rs 35,788.40 Crore; Rs 1,400 Crore Allocated for Ladki Bahin Yojana
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Nagpur, Dec 16 (NationPress) The Maharashtra government unveiled supplementary demands amounting to Rs 35,788.40 crore during a session of the state legislature on Monday. This presentation marks the first since the establishment of the Mahayuti government after the latest Assembly elections, intended to support ongoing government initiatives, including the Ladki Bahin Yojana, as well as the state's share in schemes funded by the Central government.
The supplementary demands were introduced by Shiv Sena Minister Uday Samant in the Assembly.
Out of the total Rs 35,788.40 crore, significant allocations have been designated for various departments: Rs 7,490.24 crore for the public works department, Rs 4,112.79 crore for the industry, energy, labour, and mining sector, Rs 3,717.29 crore for interest-free loans to the state government for capital expenditures, Rs 3,050 crore for free electricity to consumers under the Mukhyamantri Baliraja scheme, and Rs 2,774.43 crore for urban development.
The government has also set aside Rs 2,600.31 crore for the OBC department, Rs 2,165.47 crore for the water resources department to complete long-standing irrigation projects, and Rs 2,155.40 crore for the women and child development department.
Notably, Rs 1,400 crore has been specifically allocated for the Ladki Bahin Yojana. Already, 2.34 crore women beneficiaries have received Rs 7,500 (equivalent to Rs 1,500 monthly) for the period of July to November. The Mahayuti government has pledged to raise the monthly support to Rs 2,100, and the funds allocated through these supplementary demands are anticipated to facilitate the December payments to women beneficiaries. The Women and Child Development Department oversees the implementation of the Ladki Bahin Yojana.
Additionally, the government has allocated Rs 2,147.41 crore for agriculture and animal husbandry. The Mahayuti administration has committed to providing a loan waiver for farmers, with a detailed policy expected to be announced soon.
Other significant allocations include Rs 2,049.69 crore for medical education, Rs 2,007.69 crore for rural development, Rs 1,908.01 crore for various irrigation development corporations regarding share capital, Rs 1,830.76 crore for tribal development, Rs 1,377.55 crore for cooperation, marketing, and the textile department, and Rs 1,500 crore for the public works department as a government contribution towards loans acquired from the Asian Development Bank for road and bridge constructions.
The government has also earmarked Rs 1,250 crore for the Modi Awas Gharkul Yojana, Rs 1,204.58 crore for margin money to eligible cooperative sugar factories, Rs 1,170 crore for the state government component to secure loans from the Asian Development Bank for constructing medical colleges, Rs 1,000 crore to incentivize small, medium, and large industries, and Rs 758.96 crore for the milk subsidy scheme.
It is noteworthy that the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar had previously presented supplementary demands of Rs 94,889.06 crore on July 9 to fund a range of benefits and incentives announced in the budget for 2024-25, aimed at the state Assembly elections. Pawar had also introduced a budget of Rs 6,12,293 crore on June 28, which reflected a revenue deficit of Rs 20,051 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1.10 lakh crore.
Despite the supplementary demands totaling Rs 94,889.06 crore, the projected direct financial impact on the state government was calculated at Rs 88,770.64 crore.
(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)
