Shinde government announces scheme for girls, start cash transfers for farmers

Mumbai: ready in election mode, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday approved the Lek Ladki Yojana (Dear Daughter scheme) for families with annual income up to Rs one lakh. The government will pay Rs 5,000 at the time of birth of a girl child Rs 6,000 when she is admitted to a school, Rs 7,000 when she is in class 7, Rs 8,000 when she gets admission in a college and Rs 75,000 when she attains the age of 18 years. Thus, a total Rs 1.01 lakh will be provided to the girl.

The Eknath Shinde government also approved the disbursement of Rs 1,720 crore to farmers as the first tranche of funds under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana by issuing a GR (Government Resolution). Under the scheme, around 90 lakh farmers in the state will be paid Rs 6,000 annually.

An official of chief minister office (CMO) said that Lek Ladki scheme will be implemented with the effect of April 01, 2023.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister and former finance minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced the scheme in the 2023-24 budget.

 Maharashtra minister for women and child development Aditi Tatkare said that the purpose of the scheme is to prevent the school drop out of the girl child due to financial burden on the family. “The scheme will be rolled out from Navratri. I am sure that it will empower the girl child,” Ms. Tatkare said.

According to the cabinet decision, if there are one or two girls or one boy and one girl born in a family after April 1, 2023 in the state, the girl will be entitled to get the benefit of this scheme. On birth of twins during second delivery, both girls will be eligible for the scheme. But the mother or father of these children will have to undergo a family planning operation.

“The money will be transferred to the account of the girl in installments, so that her education would be completed smoothly,” a senior official said.  

Meanwhile, the state Agriculture department has issued a GR in connection with approval disbursement of Rs 1,720 crore to farmers as the first tranche of funds under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana. Rs 6,000 will annually be deposited in the bank accounts of farmers in the state. Nearly 90 lakh farmers of the state will be benefited by this scheme, an official said.

Maharashtra agriculture minister Dhananjay Munde said that Rs 1,720 crores have been approved for the first installment from 2023 April to July 2023. Funds will be disbursed through PFMS (Public Financial Management System) directly to farmers' accounts.