Last update:November 18, 2024, 12:45 PM IST

Mahayuti comprising BJP, Shinde Sena and NCP (Ajit Pawar) bets on Ladki Bahin scheme to win Maharashtra polls

Chitra Wagh posted a video of Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister on X. (X)

While Maharashtra Govt Ladki Bahin scheme, introduced by the Mahayuti alliance, has emerged as a model of inclusion and empowerment for women, the Gruhalakshmi program in Karnataka – launched by the Congress-led government – ​​has a restrictive approach of providing benefits to only one woman per household, according to Chitra Wagh. , a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

Wagh posted a video of Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on microblogging site X where she was seen saying, “Under the Gruhalakshmi Scheme, only one woman in the household – be it mother-in-law, daughter-in-law. mother-in-law or sister-in-law – can benefit from advantages.”

The Mahayuti, comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shinde Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar), is banking on the scheme to win the Maharashtra assembly elections. Maharashtra will vote on November 20 and the results will be declared on November 23.

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EQUALITY

The Ladki Bahin scheme benefited more than 20 million women in Maharashtra. By allowing multiple beneficiaries in the same household, the program addresses the diverse needs of women without creating conflict. This inclusive approach empowers women to make independent decisions, improving their financial stability and overall well-being.

Take for example a family in Nagpur, where grandmother, daughter-in-law, both are getting benefits under the scheme. “This financial aid has brought peace to our home,” says one of the beneficiaries. “Each of us uses the funds for our individual needs — whether it’s education, healthcare or small business — without dispute or competition.”

CRITIQUE OF KARNATAKA’S APPROACH

Critics argue that limiting benefits to one woman per household undermines the program’s potential for meaningful empowerment in Karnataka. This one-size-fits-all approach ignores the unique challenges faced by women in larger families and fails to promote harmony within households.

“YOU WANT EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE”

Chitra Wagh urged the women of Maharashtra to recognize the importance Ladki Bahin scheme in ensuring equal opportunities for all. “If Congress comes to power, only one woman per family will get benefits, just like in Karnataka,” she warned.