MUMBAI: the Maharashtra government has tabled supplementary demands worth Rs 33,788.40 crore, including Rs 1,400 crore allocated to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. The funds also cover a wide range of projects, including support for farmers, free electricity for agricultural pumps, and a new statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The supplementary demands, presented by Minister Uday Samant, are additional funds requested by the state government beyond the initial budgetary allocations. A substantial portion of this request--Rs 1,400 crore--has been earmarked for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, which has been instrumental in supporting women in Maharashtra. Under the scheme, women aged between 21 and 60 years receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500. To date, more than 2.5 crore women have benefited from the scheme's financial assistance.
In a bid to enhance this welfare initiative, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently stated that the monthly stipend will be increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, with this adjustment set to be included in future budget plans.
Another key provision in the supplementary demands is the allocation of Rs 36 crore for a new Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot Fort in Sindhudurg district. This move comes after the collapse of a 35-foot statue of the Maratha king at the same site in August, just months after it was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December.
The government has also prioritized support for the agricultural sector, with Rs 1,204 crore allocated for margin money loans to eligible sugar cooperative factories. Additionally, Rs 3,050 crore has been earmarked for the Mukhyamantri Baliraja scheme, which provides free electricity to farmers operating agricultural pumps up to 7.5 horsepower.
Various state departments are set to receive significant funding, including Rs 7,490 crore for the Public Works Department, Rs 4,112 crore for industry, power, and labour, Rs 2,774 crore for urban development, Rs 2,007 crore for rural development, and Rs 1,830 crore for tribal development.
These supplementary demands are expected to support a wide range of welfare, infrastructure, and development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of citizens across Maharashtra.
Earlier, during the cabinet meeting on October 1st, a decision was made to offer a concession on the payment of land premiums to MMRDA in order to speed up the slum rehabilitation project in Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamrajnagar. As per the revised valuation of 14 hectares of land in Kurla, MMRDA will be allowed to pay the land premium from the sale proceeds after the project's completion, eliminating the need for an upfront 25 percent payment.