No disbursement in poll period, so Ladki Bahin scheme need not be put on hold: Minister

Pune: State women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare on Saturday said there was no need to put on hold the Mukhyamantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana though the model code of conduct was in effect because funds disbursement for October and November was completed before the announcement of the assembly elections' schedule on October 15.
"Since we've already disbursed funds for these months and the next disbursement is due only in December, there's no need to put the scheme on hold.No disbursement will be made while the model code of conduct will be in force," Tatkare told TOI, after the CM Yojana Doot scheme was put on hold on Thursday and over 100 govt resolutions were withdrawn earlier this week following opposition's allegation of poll code violations.
The state distributed funds to 2.32 crore beneficiaries for October-November in the first week of October.
Tatkare emphasised that the Ladki Bahin Yojana was an ongoing scheme announced earlier and only scrutiny of applications was being carried out at present. She said the Mukhyamantri Yojana Doot scheme was put on hold because it demanded appointees to work as govt representatives to publicise govt schemes.
State govt launched Yojana Doot — a recruitment drive — to hire a large number of individuals to serve as scheme ambassadors. They are supposed to play a crucial role in disseminating information about various govt schemes and initiatives to the public.
Election officials on Saturday said the department concerned should follow the model code of conduct guidelines regarding the ongoing schemes. "We have issued all guidelines and the departments are aware of what is allowed and what is not," said an official.
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420 poll code violation complaints filed via c-VIGIL app, maximum in Thane
The state election officials resolved 414 out of 420 complaints of model code of conduct violations received through the c-VIGIL app from across the state from October 15 to 18.
Officials said 256 complaints were addressed within 100 minutes. Thane district recorded the highest number of resolved cases.
Various enforcement agencies of state govt seized illegal cash, liquor, drugs and valuable metals worth Rs1,064 lakh since the implementation of the model code of conduct for the assembly elections.