Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday launched a campaign to raise awareness about 10 key government schemes targeting youth, women, farmers and the elderly, ahead of the state assembly elections expected in November.
Shinde’s Shiv Sena party, under the 'Ladki Bahin Kutumb Bhet Abhiyaan,' aims to connect with over one crore families across the state. The campaign seeks to ensure that families are benefiting from schemes such as the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women, as well as other programmes like the Mukhyamantri Yuva Prashikshan Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Vayoshree Yojana.
The initiative comes amid growing tensions within the ruling alliance, with a Shiv Sena minister criticising ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar for allegedly omitting Shinde’s name from promotional materials for the flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai expressed frustration over Pawar's handling of the scheme, accusing him of failing to follow protocol by not using the full name, which includes the title 'Chief Minister'. "This is a government scheme, and it should include all stakeholders," Desai said.
Shinde highlighted that the campaign would also evaluate the challenges families face in accessing these programmes, with progress being monitored through a geo-tracking app.
The Shiv Sena leader emphasised that the empowerment of women would significantly boost the state's economy.
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