In a recent incident, the former CM of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, criticized the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government’s ‘Ladli Bahin‘ scheme, stating that it would not have any impact on the state assembly elections on Wednesday. Adding further, he stated that the scheme promotes an “owner-slave” relationship with the state’s women voters. Thackeray said that the title of the scheme literally translates to “beloved sister” and should inculcate a “brother-sister” bond.

“Ladki Bahin” will not have much of an impact because people have started understanding the intention behind the scheme,” Thackeray told ThePrint in an interview.

He added: “They think that by giving Rs 1500 per month, all women have become their slaves. This won’t happen. Their emotion behind this scheme is not of brother-sister but of owner-slave.”

What Is The Ladli Bahin Yojna–

The scheme was introduced by the Mahayuti government in this year’s budget for FY24-FY25. Since August, all the women who are eligible will receive the benefit from the “Ladli Bahin” scheme.

Eligibility

• The eligibility of the scheme is for women whose annual income is less than ₹2.5 lakh per annum.
• The women who are enrolled in the scheme receive ₹1,500 per month.

The Mahayuti government promises to increase it to ₹2,100 if it returns to power in the assembly polls. The ruling alliance consists of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.

Benefits

• Monetary benefit of Rs 1500 every month.
• Three free LPG cylinders provided annually.
• Fee waivers for poor girls belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker
  Sections (EWS) for higher education admissions in colleges.

Document needed

• Aadhaar Card
• Ration Card
• Income Certificate
• Bank Account Passbook

What Do Other Political Parties Offer-

The manifesto of the opposition party Maha Vikas Aghadi (including Shiv Sena, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) has also proposed a similar scheme titled Mahalakshmi. The scheme would give women financial help of ₹3,000 per month.