'Ladki Behn' scheme looted of Rs 3,500 crore by those in power, alleges Congress

The Bharatiya Janata Party government has not left any department or sector where corruption has not been committed. Wherever an opportunity arose, corruption has been committed by following the policy of looting. Despite looting the donation money given by devotees in the Ram temple, the BJP and RSS are not satiated, so now they have also looted the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme. The stepbrothers in power have not even spared the sisters. Is this a government or a gang of dacoits? This scathing attack was made by Harshvardhan Sapkal, President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

In this regard, the state Congress president said that the BJP-Maha-Yuti government has committed financial irregularities worth crores of rupees under the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme. Several serious flaws have been found in the financial management of the scheme. A provision of Rs 29,693 crore was made for the project, but the government spent Rs 3,541 crore more than the approved budget. There is no record or account of the expenditure of this additional amount with the government. Not only this, but the amount was also withdrawn even when there was no real need for the scheme.

The BJP government has made it a habit to commit corruption worth crores of rupees in the name of various schemes. Those who claim 'neither will I eat nor will I let you eat' are now busy plundering public money wherever they get a chance. He said that the expenditure on women's welfare programs has increased from Rs 261.78 crore to Rs 33,554 crore in the financial year 2024-25. While increasing the expenditure on women's schemes, the budget for the housing department's schemes was reduced by 54%, and the expenditure on water supply and sanitation decreased by 31.81%.

The increased expenditure on the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme by reducing the expenditure on basic infrastructure can have a negative impact on the long-term stability of public services. The CAG has also made a similar comment in its report. Rs 3,490 crore was transferred from the 'Lek Laadki' scheme for economically weaker families' daughters to the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme. Earlier, the fund of the Department of Social Justice was also transferred to the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme. This entire action is a blatant violation of financial discipline.

Harshvardhan Sapkal said that the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme was started without any solid study during the assembly elections with the aim of getting women's votes. Women were given Rs 1,500 per month, and it was promised to give Rs 2,100 per month after coming back to power, but instead of giving Rs 2,100, the government removed 92 lakh 'Ladki Bhen' from the scheme in the name of KYC. This is an open betrayal of the 'Ladki Bhen'. The BJP-Maha-Yuti government has filled its own treasury in the name of the 'Ladki Bhen' scheme.

Cheating the 'Ladki Bhen' and keeping lakhs of women out of the scheme, will it not defame Maharashtra? The government will have to account for every single rupee of the public.