UP CM Adityanath hands over Rs 300 cheque to scholarship students; gets trolled
Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath faced backlash for distributing cheques worth Rs 300 to Rs 900 at the launch of the Sanskrit Scholarship Scheme. Social media users criticised the UP government for exploiting students for publicity.
Videos from the event at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, held on Sunday, quickly went viral on social media. One user pointed out, "The cost of printing a Rs 300 cheque could be more than the value written on the cheque." Another remarked, "This is less than a $4 cheque rewarded to the high performing students in the state of UP. This is the country talking about being the 4th largest economy in the world. And not to mention a super power beating China and the USA. Have some shame!" A user also mentioned that it was amusing to see four ministers posing with a Rs 300 cheque for a photo opportunity, calling it shameless behaviour.
During the launch, Adityanath expressed gratitude for launching the scholarship scheme just before the Diwali celebrations, emphasising its importance for the country’s language and culture.
Adityanath mentioned that the state government will revive residential gurukul-style Sanskrit schools across Uttar Pradesh, stating that Sanskrit is not only a "dev vaani" (language of the gods) but also a scientific language applicable to modern fields like computer science and artificial intelligence.
Only BJP can do this!
— Dr. Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) October 27, 2024
Cheques of ₹300 were distributed as scholarships to students by UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
It seems they spent more on printing the cheques than their actual value. pic.twitter.com/bOOUBwwgpN
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Maharashtra government considers tweaks to Ladki Bahin scheme amid fiscal strain: Reports
Mumbai: A day after the Mahayuti coalition secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, attention has turned to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that played a pivotal role in attracting women voters.
The scheme, launched in July 2024, offers ₹1,500 per month to economically disadvantaged women aged 18 to 65. The Mahayuti, in its election manifesto, pledged to increase the amount to ₹2,100 per month, a promise now under scrutiny due to fiscal concerns. With the scheme projected to cost the exchequer ₹33,300 crore from July 2024 to March 2025, bureaucrats are exploring ways to revise its provisions to prevent a financial imbalance.
Finance Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar hinted at the challenges, stressing the need for "financial discipline." A senior bureaucrat confirmed that plans are underway to prune the list of beneficiaries, citing the inclusion of ineligible individuals due to incomplete Aadhaar seeding and lack of required ration cards. According to the finance department, nearly one crore women out of the 2.43 crore registered beneficiaries may not qualify for the scheme.
The state’s debt burden is already projected to reach ₹7.82 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Officials warn that continuing the scheme in its current form could impact the government’s ability to pay salaries by January. Despite these concerns, the ruling coalition is hesitant to reduce the beneficiary list, likely due to the upcoming civic elections.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik is expected to present renegotiation proposals to the new chief minister soon. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde credited the scheme for increasing the number of women voters and boosting the coalition’s vote share. NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar also acknowledged the scheme’s role in mobilising women voters.
Other welfare measures introduced by the government include an electricity bill waiver for farmers and three free LPG cylinders annually for six million households. However, the financial viability of such initiatives remains a pressing concern.
