Maharashtra Govt Rolls Out Lek Ladki; A Financial Incentive Scheme A Day Before International Girl Child Day

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday, 10th October approved a financial scheme under which girls from families with low income levels will get amounts in different stages after their birth with the total for eligible beneficiaries coming to Rs 1.01 lakh when they turns 18.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said girls from families holding yellow and orange ration cards will get Rs 5,000 at the time of their birth, Rs 6,000 when they are enrolled in Class I, Rs 7,000 in Class VII, Rs 8,000 in Class XII and Rs 75,000 once they complete 18 years of age (total Rs 1.01 lakh). The decision was announced by Shinde after presiding over a state cabinet meeting here.

#WATCH | Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, "In the cabinet meeting today, it was decided that when a girl child is born Rs 5000 will be provided, Rs 6000 when she reaches class 1, Rs 7000 when she reaches class 6, Rs 8000 when she reaches class 11 and Rs 75,000 when she attains… pic.twitter.com/SOzXcaqw1F

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2023

The scheme, 'Lek Ladki' (beloved daughter), will be applicable for girls born after April 1, 2023, and it was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who then also held the finance portfolio, while presenting the budget for 2023-2024 earlier this year. The scheme's objectives are to increase the ratio of girls, promote their education, reduce malnourishment and child marriage.

Shiv Sena secretary MLC Dr. Manisha Kayande hailed the cabinet decision and said the scheme will ensure the girl child is financially supported from the time she is born and will also help curb female infanticide.

She said, "This decision will ensure that the girl child is financially supported from the time she is born and I applaud the government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Ajitdada Pawar for this decision that will truly empower women,"

Dr. Kayande further added, "I am glad that both the governments at the centre and the state are working towards empowering women. The Narendra Modi-led government recently passed the Women Reservation Bill providing one-third reservation to women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies and within a month the Mahayuti government approved the Lek Laadki Yojana which will financially support them since birth. The decision will be implemented from April 1, 2023 which means all the girls who have been born since April 1 will receive the benefit of this scheme." as quoted by the Free Press Journal.

In another decision, the cabinet approved a proposal to replace Aurangabad with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Dr Babasaheb Amebdkar Marathwada University's name. Following this change, the institute's name will now be Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

(With inputs from PTI)