Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar launched his party's 'Jan Sanman Yatra' on Thursday, describing it as a "religious journey" as he views people as akin to gods and himself as their "jan sevak" (servant of the masses).
Beginning the yatra from Dindori, Pawar framed the event as a commitment to public welfare, emphasising that he is not a king but a servant dedicated to enhancing people's lives. He cited his 33 years in politics and numerous people-friendly budgets as the foundation for the yatra's name.
Pawar highlighted several major projects he has championed, including the Solapur irrigation scheme, Pune Metro, Kharadi IT Park, and Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park. He particularly praised the 2024-25 budget he presented in July, which features numerous welfare schemes.
One notable scheme is the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which aims to empower women by directly transferring money into their accounts. Pawar announced an allocation of Rs 46,000 crore for the scheme, which will provide Rs 1,500 per month to women from families with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh.
He criticised opposition parties for allegedly spreading "falsehoods" about the scheme, accusing them of being anti-women and hindering women's empowerment.
Pawar also revealed that he had signed off on an additional Rs 6,000 crore for women's schemes, with the first instalment of aid scheduled to be distributed on August 17, ahead of Raksha Bandhan on August 19. He assured that the state budget of Rs 6.5 lakh crore would support the scheme without obstacles.
The budget also includes plans for 25,000 new industrial units, benefiting 30% women, and a pink e-rickshaw scheme to aid women’s self-employment and safety. In the first phase, financial assistance will be provided to 10,000 women across 17 cities for purchasing rickshaws.
Pawar asserted that the upcoming assembly elections are focused on the welfare of the state’s mothers and daughters, expressing confidence that the ruling alliance will perform well. He plans to visit villages to address people's concerns.
He acknowledged the impact of the onion export ban, which he said contributed to the ruling alliance's losses in the Lok Sabha elections. Pawar stated that the state government has requested the Centre to lift the ban and reaffirmed its commitment to all societal segments. He also announced a new dam in Kikvi to supply drinking water to Nashik.
The NCP's Jan Sanman Yatra will remain in north Maharashtra, including Nashik, for the next five days, covering 11 assembly constituencies across four districts.
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