Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday, June 28, announced several financial assistance scheme for the benefits of women in the age group of 21 to 60 years in the state Budget for 2024-25.
NCP chief Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio in the Mahayuti alliance, declared these schemes in his budget speech during the legislative monsoon session.
Here are the key announcements:
1) 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' - Under this scheme, women from poor families will be provided INR 1,500 per month by the government. An annual provision of INR 46,000 crores will be made in the budget for this scheme, which will be implemented from June 2024.
2) Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana - An eligible family of five will get three cooking gas cylinders free every year under this scheme. It is necessary to provide clean fuel to women so that there is no risk to their health. Nearly, 52,16, 412 beneficiary families in the state will get the benefit of the scheme.
3) Lek Ladki scheme - The state government had started the from the year 2023-24. Under this scheme, a girl child is provided INR 1.01 lakh in a phased manner from her birth till the age of 18. The girl child of yellow and orange ration card holder family will get this financial assistance.
4) Pink e-rickshaw scheme - This was announced for women self-employment and safe travel of female commuters. In the first phase of the scheme, 10,000 women across 17 cities of the State will be provided financial assistance for purchasing rickshaws. A provision of Rs 80 crores will be made available for this scheme.
5) ‘AAi Yojana’ - This scheme has been launched by the government for interest subvention on loans taken upto INR 15 lakhs by small women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. It will generate 10,000 jobs.
6) Shubmangal Samuhik Nondanikrut Vivah - Subsidy given to beneficiary girls under "Shubmangal Samuhik Nondanikrut Vivah" scheme has been increased from INR 10,000 to INR 25,000.
7) Lakhpati Didi - Under the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission, 6.48 lakhs women self-help groups are functioning and 7 lakhs new groups will be established. The amount of revolving fund of self-help groups has been increased from INR 15,000-30,000. A “Unity Mall” is being constructed at Ulwe, Navi Mumbai, which will provide a platform for women self-help groups and artisans to display and sell their products. The products produced by women self-help groups are currently marketed through “Umed Mart”, “E-Commerce Online Platform” and through exhibitions. So far, 15 lakhs women have got the honour of becoming “Lakhpati Didi”. The target is to make 25 lakh women this year.
8) “Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar Mahila Startup Yojana” - This startups scheme will be launched from this financial year for small women entrepreneurs. An all India startup convention will be organized in the State.
9) Free Higher Education - The government is committed to increase the proportion of girls in vocational education. Government has decided to reimburse 100% of tuition and examination fees to the girls from other backward class and economically weaker sections with annual family income of up to INR 8 lakhs. This includes admission to professional degree/diploma courses in engineering, architecture, pharmacy, medicine and agriculture. This decision will benefit around 2.05 lakh girls. This scheme will be started from the academic year 2024-25 and the State government will bear the burden of about INR 2,000 crores every year.
10) Equipment and materials will be made available for breast and cervical cancer screening in all health sub-centers in the State. A provision of INR 78 crores will be allocated for this purpose.
11) The State government is providing necessary funds to 100 special fast track courts for atrocities against women and children.
12) Jal Jeevan Mission - Under the concept of “Har Ghar Nal, Har Ghar Jal” 1,25,66,986 houses in rural areas have been provided with household pipe connections in Jal Jeevan Mission program to stop women from running from pillar to post for water. Work for providing household pipe connections to 21,04,932 is in progress.
13) It has been made mandatory to record the name of a person born after May 1, 2024 in the order of his name, mother's name, father's name and surname in all the government documents.
14) Anganwadi workers, helpers and mini Anganwadi workers are currently being given a benefit of up to one lakh rupees in case of retirement, death, resignation etc.
15) There are 3,324 ambulances operational free of cost for transport of patients, especially pregnant women and children from home to health institutions and back. Old ambulances will be replaced by new ambulances.
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