Mumbai/Pune: Maharashtra’s ruling coalition is witnessing a surge in political optimism as the Ladki Bahin scheme, officially known as Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana (MMLBY), gains unprecedented traction.
The scheme, inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Behna programme, has sparked a substantial public response since its introduction on June 28, following a lacklustre performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The MMLBY offers a monthly stipend of INR 1,500 to women from lower-income households, with the government reporting an overwhelming 1.32 crore applications within just 45 days. The scheme’s official launch is scheduled for August 19, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, but the initial payment has already been disbursed to beneficiaries.
This rapid uptake has led the government to prioritise MMLBY over other initiatives in anticipation of its impact on the upcoming Assembly elections. However, the scheme’s rollout has not been without challenges. The official website, https://ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in, has experienced multiple crashes due to high traffic, and the government has faced numerous complaints regarding connectivity issues in rural areas, long queues for essential documents, and difficulties in accessing bank accounts. The requirements for application—such as family income certificates, domicile proof, and Aadhaar-linked bank accounts—pose additional hurdles for many prospective applicants.
Minister for Women and Child Development, Aditi Tatkare, has acknowledged the scheme’s popularity, noting that daily registrations have averaged between three and four lakh. As of now, the department has received over 1.64 crore applications, with 1.36 crore having passed initial scrutiny. Pune and Solapur districts have seen the highest number of applications, highlighting the scheme’s significant reach. The Ladki Bahin scheme has also exposed deeper economic issues, with approximately 1.5 crore families earning below INR 2.5 lakh annually. The Maharashtra Economic Survey 2023-24 indicates that several districts, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada, have a per capita income well below INR 1.69 lakh.
This demographic weakness was evident in the ruling alliance’s poor electoral performance in these regions. In an effort to leverage the scheme’s popularity, the ruling alliance has allocated INR 46,000 crore for MMLBY this fiscal year, with an additional INR 270 crore earmarked for promotional activities. Despite this, opposition parties have criticised the timing of the scheme, accusing the government of opportunistic populism ahead of the elections. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who has championed the scheme, has instructed state agencies to prioritise MMLBY applications over other services, leading to delays in processing other critical applications, such as those for crop insurance. This directive has stirred resentment among farmers, though it was later rescinded.
