Maharashtra Assembly elections are due on November 20, and the Chief Minister’s ‘Majhi Ladki Behan Yojana’ has become a major political issue between the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Meanwhile, the Free Press Journal tried to find out the opinion of women voters on the scheme. Some women said the government should focus on women-related issues first, while others questioned the continuation of the scheme after the elections.
Ragini More, a resident of Tingre Nagar, said, “The government is making women dependent by giving them ₹1,500 per month. Instead, the government should focus on providing education and employment to women so that they can earn ₹1.5 lakh per month themselves. ₹1,500 is a minimum amount that is difficult to survive on. There are many government schemes like ‘Stand-Up India’ and ‘Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana’, but the question is, if these schemes are giving the right benefits to women, then why is there a need for a Ladki Behan Yojana?” Manjushree Gesge, a resident of Bibvewadi, said, “This scheme is good, but it should not be discontinued after the elections. There is a rumor in society that this scheme may be discontinued after the elections due to a lack of funds. The government should bring more initiatives for women. This time we will vote to change the government as we are fed up with inflation, as household items have become very expensive. ₹1,500 is not enough to meet our needs. The government should come up with a plan to reduce inflation.”
Pushpa Mishra, a resident of Raviwar Peth, said, “The Ladki Behan Yojana may have an impact in this election. However, the major problem in Peth areas is traffic jams, which sometimes make it difficult for ambulances to reach hospitals. The government should focus on the safety of backward classes as well as women.” Sahakar Nagar resident Anjali Ravalu said, “This time we will vote for the candidates based on their qualifications and party. There are many schemes apart from the Ladki Behan Yojana, but we have not benefited from any of them. Many candidates win elections in the name of the party but have no plans to work on ground-level issues. We will vote for development.”
Nana Peth resident Neeta Prakash Pawar alleged, “Water cuts and low pressure is a serious issue. It does not matter who wins, but the winning candidate should find a solution to it. Many private water tankers are being run by politicians or their associates. Similarly, encroachment on roads is also a problem. Illegal vendors across the city have encroached on footpaths and even roads. Many food stalls without a license are running under political patronage.”
