On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has officially launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’. This ambitious initiative promises to empower women across the state by providing a monthly financial assistance of ₹ 1500 to eligible beneficiaries. This scheme, drawing inspiration from Madhya Pradesh’s successful ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’, is designed to ensure the financial security and independence of women in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Shinde has assured that this scheme is not a temporary measure, but a long-term commitment to women’s empowerment. He emphasized that the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ aims to protect the interests of women in the state and ensure their well-being.
To streamline the application process, the Maharashtra government has launched the ‘Nari Shakti Dhoot’ mobile application. Women eligible for the scheme can conveniently apply online through this platform. Local officials, including Anganwadi workers and gram sevaks, are also available to assist women with the registration process. Importantly, there is no fee associated with applying for the scheme.
Eligibility for the scheme is based on specific criteria. Applicants must be permanent residents of Maharashtra and fall within the age group of 21 to 65 years. The ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ is specifically targeted towards women from financially disadvantaged families. To qualify, women must belong to families with an annual household income of less than ₹ 2.5 lakh.
To expedite the verification and disbursement of financial aid, officials strongly encourage applicants to link their Aadhar cards with their bank accounts. Banks across the state have been instructed to facilitate this process.
In a successful pilot phase, over 3 million eligible women have already received an initial payment of ₹ 3,000 in their bank accounts. This demonstrates the government’s commitment to timely and efficient implementation of the scheme.
On August 16th, Chief Minister Shinde stated, “We will not only give them ₹ 1,500, we will make them independent, we will make them self-reliant.” He emphasized the government’s vision to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to empowering women, making them self-reliant, and ensuring their self-respect. The government intends to provide further financial assistance through various schemes to support this vision.
