'Ladki Bahin' scheme
It is a flagship welfare scheme launched by the Government of Maharashtra.
This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to women from economically weaker sections, promoting their self-reliance and socio-economic development.
Eligibility criteria:
Applicants must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra.
The annual family income should be less than ₹2.5 lakh.
Women who are employed in government jobs or who pay income tax are not eligible for this scheme.
The scheme is applicable to women aged between 21 and 65 years.
Benefits
Eligible women receive ₹1,500 every month.
Three free LPG gas cylinders are provided annually.
Fee waivers for poor girls belonging to OBC and EWS for higher education admissions in colleges
Challenges Faced by the State and Need for Sustainable Welfare Schemes
The scheme may worsen the state's already precarious financial situation, with a revenue deficit of ₹20,151 crore and a fiscal deficit of ₹1,10,355 crore.
The introduction of this and other new schemes, costing nearly one lakh crore, has put pressure on essential services and existing welfare programs
Financial aid programs often divert funds from critical support measures, such as aid for families of farmers who have died by suicide.
Reliance on populist schemes tends to provide short-term relief without addressing the root causes of poverty and economic inequality.
Economists warn that excessive reliance on freebie culture could lead India to a fiscal crisis similar to that of Sri Lanka.
There is a need for a strategic shift towards welfare schemes that focus on long-term benefits, employment generation, and efficient execution rather than short-term financial aid.
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