Pune: A legal notice has been served to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, the Chief Secretary, and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, alleging that the recently launched ‘Ladki Bahin' scheme by the Mahayuti government promotes a life of begging and fails to provide permanent employment opportunities.
The notice claims that distributing funds for political advantage undermines the principles of a welfare state and indicates that the scheme is politically motivated, aimed at garnering votes in the upcoming elections.
The notice, sent by senior journalist and political analyst Vinay Hardikar through Advocate Aseem Sarode, raises concerns over the timing of the scheme's launch, just before the assembly elections.
Hardikar demands clarification from the government on how the scheme is expected to enhance women’s financial independence, health, and nutrition with only ₹1,500.
The scheme's annual cost is projected to be ₹46,000 crores. The notice further reveals that the Maharashtra government has covertly borrowed ₹3,000 crores from the Reserve Bank to fund the scheme, a fact that remains hidden from the public.
Hardikar argues that if the scheme had been implemented following the elections, allowing women to benefit over a five-year span, its purpose would not be questioned. Instead, it has been introduced merely to secure electoral votes.
The notice points out that the scheme places an undue burden on the state’s treasury, violating financial responsibility and budget management laws, which expect a maximum financial deficit of three percent.
Instead, the implementation of the scheme has resulted in a 4.6 percent increase in the financial deficit, and the assertion that the scheme will generate employment is described as unfounded and misleading.
