Mumbai: On the opening day of its first cabinet session on Monday, the Maharashtra government tabled supplementary demands totaling Rs 33,788.40 crore, including a provision of Rs 1,400 crore for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. Minister Uday Samant presented these supplementary demands, which outline the additional budgetary allocations requested by the government.
Under the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, the Maharashtra government had announced an annual allocation of Rs 46,000 crore to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women aged 21 to 60. Over 2.5 crore women have already received the monthly installments.
Recently, the government had announced plans to increase the allowance from Rs1,500 to Rs 2,100, with a corresponding budget prepared for its implementation. Additionally, a provision of Rs 36 crore has been made for the installation of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan Taluka, Sindhudurg district.
The highest allocation in these supplementary demands, amounting to Rs 7,490 crore, has been made for the Public Works Department. The government has allocated Rs 4,112 crore for the Industries, Energy, and Labor Department, Rs 2,774 crore for urban development, Rs 2,007 crore for rural development and Rs 1,830 crore for the Tribal Development Department.
The government has also earmarked Rs 2,147.41 crore for agriculture and animal husbandry and Rs 2,049.69 crore for medical education. The Mahayuti has promised a loan waiver to farmers and the government is expected to soon come out with a detailed policy in this regard.
Ahead of the assembly elections, the Mahayuti government had presented record supplementary demands worth Rs 94,000 crore during the July session. This time, through supplementary demands, the government has prioritised allocating funds to schemes launched just before the elections.
Accordingly, Rs 514 crore has been allocated for the Chief Minister Annapurna Scheme. Supplementary demands presented to be discussed over two days, December 19 and 20, before approval.
