Mumbai: A number of populist schemes introduced by Eknath Shinde when he was chief minister within the Mahayuti 1.0 authorities forward of the Maharashtra polls are susceptible to closure as a result of fiscal disaster because the state authorities diverts funds to its flagship ladies’s money switch program Ladki Bahin Yojana.
Shinde’s pet plans dealing with the ax embrace Anandacha Sidha, Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana and Shiv Sena’s Shiv Bhojan Thali, which was introduced within the undivided Sena manifesto in 2019 and launched throughout the pandemic.
The potential of closure emerged amid hypothesis of a chilly conflict between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Shinde.
Meals and Civil Provides Minister Chhagan Bhujbal acknowledged that the federal government’s standard scheme Ladki Bahin Yojana has influenced different initiatives.
“I personally really feel that Ladki Bahin is having an impression on different schemes of the ministry, as that scheme requires Rs 35,000-40,000 crore. And if such an quantity must be diverted, it would have an effect on different schemes,” Bhujbal instructed the media on Monday.
Not all programs shall be affected by finances constraints. Some individuals are gradual to react and lose momentum.
For instance, the Mukhimantri Enamel Darshan Yatra is progressing slowly, though it has not been fully abolished as a consequence of poor response to the scheme, an official from the Social Justice and Particular Wants Division instructed ThePrint.
The scheme was launched on July 14, 2024, forward of the polls, and supplied free pilgrimage journeys to senior residents aged 60 and above with annual family earnings of lower than Rs 250,000.
Sanjay Sirsat, the social justice minister below whose jurisdiction the scheme falls, instructed ThePrint that the rationale for this was not an absence of funding, however an absence of response.
The Sena chief additional stated that in the beginning of the scheme, the ministry took folks to Ayodhya for Ram Mandir.darshan (go to). Some took them to Bodhi Gaya, Pandharpur and different pilgrimage locations.
“We’ve not stopped this program, however the response has been comparatively low. We’ve despatched folks. Enamel Darshan When this scheme began, we donated to Ayodhya, however this yr nobody has joined the scheme but,” Sirsat stated.
“We do not know why individuals are not on this scheme. Perhaps it is due to the monsoon or one thing, we do not know. So it seems to be just like the scheme has stopped. However as a division, we now have not stopped the scheme but.”
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Meal help
One other main scheme that’s more likely to be scrapped is the Anandacha Sidha program launched by Shinde throughout Diwali 2022. This consists of offering ration kits at a reduced fee of Rs 100 to saffron ration card holders.
Equipment – Consists of 1 kg every. suji (semolina flour), chana dal (cut up chickpeas), sugar and one liter of cooking oil have been distributed on eight events, together with festivals corresponding to Gudi Padwa, Shiv Jayanti and Diwali in 2023 and 2024.
Within the first yr, Rs 600 million was spent on the scheme. Nonetheless, in 2024, the expenditure has come right down to Rs 160 million. Nothing was talked about on this yr’s finances.
Kits usually are not offered to households throughout Ganesh Utsav and now, with Diwali approaching, the minister says there isn’t any funding for the scheme.
A senior Sena official instructed ThePrint that it was a mistake to close down the Anandacha Sidha challenge.
“We are able to admit that there have been irregularities in Shiv Bhojan Thali as some fraudsters obtained more cash than they need to have, however Anandacha Sidha mustn’t have been shut down. These have been necessary schemes initiated by our chief Shinde and the social gathering. Let’s hope we get extra funds subsequent yr,” the chief stated.
Bhujbal stated funds for Ladki Bahin and flood aid had affected the rationing system.
“We despatched a proposal to the finance ministry throughout Ganeshotsav and Diwali, however we have been instructed that it isn’t attainable. We have been instructed that it isn’t attainable this yr contemplating different issues,” he instructed the media.
The story is similar with the Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme, which gives sponsored meals to the poor for Rs 10. The plan, introduced by the Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities, was a part of the undivided Shiv Sena’s manifesto. Shinde continued this plan even after the Sena cut up in 2022. The state authorities spends near Rs 200 crore yearly on this.
Nonetheless, this was not included within the present finances invoice.
Up to now six months, round 2,000 Shiv Bhojan operators throughout Maharashtra haven’t acquired funds to proceed the scheme.
The scenario was so dire that one Nagpur enterprise proprietor even tried to take his personal life as a result of he was unable to pay his groceries and staff. Operators are normally self-help teams or NGOs.
Underneath the scheme, launched by then CM Uddhav Thackeray throughout the pandemic, the federal government pays operators Rs 25 per particular person as thalis charge in rural areas and Rs 40 per particular person as thalis charge in city areas.
Bhujbal stated at the very least Rs 140 million a yr is required to proceed the scheme for at the very least 200,000 folks, however solely Rs 70 million has been permitted up to now.
“However I do not suppose the complete quantity has been acquired. These operators are poor folks and usually are not like huge builders. They stay hand to mouth, which is why complaints are sometimes acquired,” Bhujbal stated.
A ministry official instructed ThePrint that solely round Rs 20 billion has been launched in April up to now.
Bhujbal added that it’s unclear whether or not these plans will stay in place or be shut down subsequent yr. “It depends upon what the fiscal constraints are subsequent yr. This choice should be taken by cupboard. One factor is for certain: all departments are feeling the money crunch.”
(Edited by Sague Kitty)
Additionally learn: Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Shinde’s departments appoint totally different officers to the put up, within the highest confusion that indicators a rift within the Mahayuti authorities.
