Social justice, tribal department funds cut in Maharashtra, given to Ladki Bahin scheme: Report
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana appears to be impacting budget allocations for key welfare departments, with significant funds reportedly redirected from social justice and tribal development initiatives.
"My information is that nearly Rs 10,000 crore, which includes Rs 7,000 crore from social justice and Rs 3,000 crore from tribal development, has been diverted for Ladki Bahin scheme,” Shiv Sena’s Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat told The Times of India.
The report, published on Saturday, mentioned that although the budget saw a 40-42 percent increase in overall allocations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), funding for the social justice, tribal development, and other backward Bahujan welfare departments has been reduced.
A senior bureaucrat confirmed the reallocation of funds from the social justice and tribal development departments for the Ladki Bahin scheme. "Funds must have been transferred for SC/ST beneficiaries under the scheme," the bureaucrat told TOI.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra is grappling with its highest-ever projected debt of Rs 9.3 lakh crore and the steepest revenue deficit (gap between income and expenditure) at an estimated Rs 45,891 crores for 2025-26.
The Mahayuti government had launched the Ladki Bahin Yojana in July 2024, where it provides Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women under the scheme. In its poll manifesto ahead of the state Assembly elections, the Mahayuti had promised to increase the amount to Rs 2,100. However, this commitment has not been fulfilled yet.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
