New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party and its National Democratic Alliance partners are considering implementing the Ladki Bahin Yojana-like direct benefit transfer scheme in other states being governed by the saffron alliance, after the resounding success of the policy in the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls.
After the success of Ladki Bahin Yojana in securing an unprecedented victory for the MahaYuti, it is understood that several other NDA governments across the country are likely to replicate the policy.
Sources stated that the top leadership in NDA is actively considering recreating the women centric policy in other states under its rule. “The Uttar Pradesh government is understood to be studying the impact of possible implementation of the women centric welfare measure in the state,” sources said.
It is believed that apart from Uttar Pradesh, other states including Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Odisha governments are also soon likely to launch impact assessment on the implications of the welfare policy in their respective regions.
The scheme targeted women voters and aimed to secure their allegiance for the saffron alliance. The success of women centric welfare measures has ensured that other state governments are reviewing the scheme’s impact in their respective regions. It is believed that these governments are likely to implement the direct benefit transfer scheme, aimed at women, over the next few months in a phased manner.
Ahead of the crucial Maharashtra Assembly polls, the ruling MahaYuti had wooed women voters with a direct benefit transfer scheme named Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana. It is believed that the scheme was implemented after the alliance’s poor show in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The MahaYuti also promised to increase the monthly dole from Rs 1,500 at present to Rs 2,100 on returning to power, an act that has seemingly created a strong support base amongst the women voters of the state.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana, introduced in July 2024, offers monthly stipends of Rs 1,500 to women between the ages of 18 and 65 years who are facing financial hardships. Notably, the government had already disbursed the funds for October and November in advance during the month of October.
Speaking to Tehelka.com, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had briefed the state government about the Ladli Behna Yojna ahead of state assembly polls. “Chouhan had told us that this scheme had enabled BJP to make a direct connection with the women voters. Which later enabled them to beat heavy anti-incumbency and return to power,” Pawar said.
The senior Nationalist Congress Party leader acknowledged that successful implementation of Ladki Bahin Yojana was one of the reasons for the impressive performance of MahaYuti in the Assembly polls.
The MahaYuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, secured an unprecedented 235 seats in the 288 member Maharashtra Assembly polls.
The women centric scheme’s implementation was pioneered by Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s Madhya Pradesh government. Under the Ladli Behna Yojna the Madhya Pradesh government currently transfers Rs 1,250 per month to bank accounts of women beneficiaries of this scheme, which was launched ahead of last year’s assembly elections. The incumbent Mohan Yadav government is now understood to be considering increasing the monthly installment under the scheme.
