Maharashtra Election 2024: Piyush Goyal Announces ₹2,100 Monthly Aid for Women Under Ladki Behan Yojana
Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, women in the state have received a major boost with a significant announcement from Union Minister Piyush Goyal. On Thursday, November 14, Goyal revealed that if the Mahayuti alliance forms the government in Maharashtra, the amount provided under the “Ladki Behan Yojana” will be increased to ₹2,100 per month. Currently, women under the scheme receive ₹1,500 each month, and this amount is set to rise significantly in the coming months.
Goyal explained that under this initiative, 2.34 crore beneficiaries have already received ₹1,500 installments over the past five months, and the new increase will provide even more financial support. He also mentioned that over the next five years, women in Maharashtra would receive ₹1.25 lakh annually, designed to help them become economically self-sufficient.
The announcement comes in the midst of the Maharashtra Assembly election campaigns, where the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) has also promised women voters a ₹3,000 monthly assistance under the “Mahalakshmi Yojana,” along with free travel in state transport buses. This is seen as an attempt to attract female voters ahead of the crucial elections.
Piyush Goyal responded to these promises, emphasizing the need to bring women into the formal economy and expressing confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would win once again. He reassured that the people of Maharashtra would not be swayed by false promises and guarantees and that the Mahayuti would secure a “clean sweep” in Mumbai and Konkan regions.
In addition to the financial assistance, Goyal also discussed the plans for increasing women’s representation in politics, with a focus on ensuring 33% female representation in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures following the census.
The “Ladki Behan Yojana” is specifically designed for married women and widows between the ages of 21 and 65, as well as homeless women with a family income of less than ₹2.5 lakh per year. This initiative aims to provide financial stability and empowerment to women across Maharashtra.
