The opposition Congress in Madhya Pradesh has criticized the state government led by the BJP regarding the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana. The Congress alleged that there are no plans to add new beneficiaries or increase financial aid under the scheme. This criticism stemmed from a response provided by Women and Child Development Minister Nirmala Bhuria in the Assembly during the ongoing budget session.
In her written response, Bhuria clarified that there are no current proposals for new registrations under the Ladli Behna Yojana. Additionally, there are no plans to raise the monthly assistance from the existing Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000. This response led to accusations from Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, who accused the BJP government of reneging on its promise to increase the monthly aid.
Singhar highlighted that despite Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s assurance of a phased increase in assistance, the opposition remains unsatisfied. The written reply from the government explicitly states that there is no provision for enhancing the assistance in the supplementary budget, as initially promised by the BJP.
The Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana, introduced before the 2023 Assembly elections, offers a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 to eligible women. Initially set for women aged 23 and later reduced to 21, the scheme’s upper age limit is 60 years, subject to specific eligibility criteria, including family income. The government had outlined a gradual increment plan from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,750 in phases, with the ultimate goal of reaching Rs 3,000 per month.
