Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut launched a blistering critique of the Maharashtra government on Sunday, alleging that the much-publicized Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana—initially billed as a major welfare initiative for women—has been drastically diluted, betraying the promises made during the election campaign.
Addressing the media in Mumbai, Raut accused the ruling Mahayuti coalition, led by the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), of deceiving the people by slashing the promised financial assistance under the scheme. “Ladki Bahin has effectively been shut down. During elections, they promised Rs 2,100. Then it came down to Rs 1,500, and now women are receiving only Rs 500,” Raut said, adding that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has backtracked on key commitments.
“Ajit Pawar says, ‘When did I say such a thing?’ But you are the Deputy CM. The government is yours. How can you say it’s your money? This money belongs to the women under the Ladki Bahin scheme,” Raut continued, accusing the leadership of taking ownership of public funds while ignoring the needs of beneficiaries.
The scheme was introduced to provide monthly financial assistance to eligible women across the state to enhance their socio-economic status. However, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction claims that the initiative has been reduced to tokenism, with many deserving beneficiaries left out or receiving much less than promised.
Earlier this year, in March, senior UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray also slammed the government, calling the initiative a “shameless policy” and an insult to the promises made to Maharashtra’s women. “Even today, only Rs 1,500 is being given, and efforts are underway to reduce the number of women who benefit from the scheme,” he said.
Despite the criticism, the state government maintains that the scheme is functioning robustly. While presenting the state budget on March 10, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar announced a massive allocation of Rs 36,000 crore for the Ladki Bahin Yojana. He claimed that over 2.53 crore women are benefiting from the program.
For the fiscal year 2025–26, the Maharashtra government proposed a total budget outlay of Rs 7.20 lakh crore, with estimated revenue receipts of Rs 5.60 lakh crore and revenue expenditure projected at Rs 6.06 lakh crore.
Still, opposition leaders argue that numbers on paper are not translating into ground realities. They allege that despite the budget allocations, actual disbursement remains low, and several women are being dropped from beneficiary lists through arbitrary criteria.
Raut warned that if the government continues to water down the scheme and ignore the promises made to women voters, it would face serious political consequences. “The women of this state are watching. You may think Rs 500 is enough to buy their silence, but this betrayal will not be forgotten,” he said.
The controversy surrounding the Ladki Bahin Yojana continues to grow, raising questions about the government’s accountability, its commitment to women’s welfare, and the credibility of election-time assurances.
