Mamata challenges Maha govt to run Ladki Bahin for 5 years
Times of India | 12 November 2024
12 Siliguri/Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the promises made by Maharashtra govt under the Ladki Bahin scheme for women were false and asserted that no state had a family protection scheme like Bengal.
Claiming that Lakshmir Bhandar was one of the longest-running schemes, Banerjee challenged Maharashtra govt to continue the Ladki Bahin scheme for five years. "That's false (Ladki Bahin scheme)! I discovered it. Why are you lying? Bengal govt provides Rs 1,200 to women from Scheduled Castes and Tribes. Let's see if they (Maharashtra govt) can give this for five years," she said after arriving at Bagdogra airport in Siliguri.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Bengal hiked cash incentives for Lakshmir Bhandar from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month for the general category and from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 for SC/ST women.
A few months back, the coalition govt led by CM knath Shinde launched the Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra, offering women a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500. During a campaign rally in Kolhapur, Shinde promised that if they won the assembly elections, the allowance would be increased to Rs 2,100. Subsequently, at a joint campaign platform of the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray pledged to launch the Mahalakshmi Yojana if they came to office, providing women with a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000. Banerjee, however, claimed Maharashtra govt stopped giving money after two months. "No state in India has a family protection scheme like Bengal," she said. On the Maharashtra assembly elections, Banerjee said, "I don't want to comment on matters of another state. However, I certainly hope that people vote against BJP."
Banerjee is on a two-day tour in Darjeeling where she is scheduled to hold meetings with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and inaugurate the Sale of Articles of Rural Artisan Society meal at Chowrasta in Darjeeling. "I come here every time, but due to the festivities, I could not come. I am going to Darjeeling for two days," she said.