Maharashtra Govt announces farmers’ debt waiver and ‘Mukhyamantri ladki bahin yojana’

• Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presents budget for the year 2024-25 in the Legislative Assembly

• ‘Mukhyamantri Varkari Sampraday Mahamandal’ to be established for the Varkaris

Mumbai – Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the 2024-25 additional budget with a revenue deficit of Rs 20,151 crore in the Legislative Assembly on 28^thJune. The Government has announced several schemes for the farmers, women, and students. The Maharashtra Government has made a demand to the UNESCO to declare the Pandharipur’s ‘Vari’ as a ‘world heritage’. They also announced the establishment of ‘Mukhyamantri Varkari Sampraday Mahamandal’ for the Varkaris. The Government announced free electricity for the farmers. The women of the State will get Rs 1500 every month under the new scheme called ‘Mukhyamantri ladki bahin yojana’ (Chief Minister beloved sister scheme).

Important announcements in the budget

1. Rs 36 crore 71 lakh funds will be given to ‘Nirmal Vari’ and each Dindi will be given Rs 20,000 of the main Palkhis in the Pandharpur Vari. Varkaris’ health check-up and medicines during their journey from Dehu to Pandharpur, and Alandi to Pandharpur will be managed by CM Medical assistance cell.

2. Education also received significant attention in the budget. Pawar announced free higher education for girls from economically weaker sections and other backward classes with family incomes up to Rs 8 lakh. This includes admission to professional degree and diploma courses in engineering, architecture, pharmacy, medicine and agriculture for an estimated 2.05 lakh girls. This would require a fund allocation worth Rs 2,000 crore.

3. Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana’, 3 free gas cylinders per home will be given benefitting over 52 lakh families.

4. In 2023, 40 talukas were affected by drought, and 1,021 revenue blocks were declared as having drought like situation. To speed up the enquiry, and as e-verification has been successfully tested in Nagpur, it has been decided to follow the same method in the entire State.