Opposition Parties Slam Move as ‘Insulting’ and ‘Cheating’ Women
PUNE: The Maharashtra government has announced that starting today, women owning four-wheelers will be disqualified from receiving benefits under its flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana. This move has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress and NCP(SP), who have termed it “insulting” and equated it to “cheating” women voters.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana provides ₹1,500 per month to women up to 65 years of age with an annual family income below ₹2.5 lakh. Eligibility criteria also stipulate that beneficiaries should not have a family member employed in the government, own a four-wheeler, or receive assistance from other government schemes. According to officials, over 21 lakh women from Pune have availed of the scheme.
Jamsinh Girase, Deputy CEO of Pune Zilla Parishad, speaking to The Indian Express,stated, “Disqualification is the only action we will take. There will be no investigations or fines. We have requested the RTO to provide a list of women owning four-wheelers, and the process may take about a month.”
However, beneficiaries argue that the policy overlooks personal circumstances. A woman from Pimpri-Chinchwad said, “I lost my job three years ago, but I still own a car purchased ten years back. I don’t have a salary now. Will that disqualify me?” Girase confirmed, “If a four-wheeler is registered in the individual’s name, they will be disqualified, as per government directives.”
Pune Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari criticized the decision, stating, “Many women bought vehicles before the Covid-19 pandemic, but lost their jobs during it. Disqualifying such women reflects the government’s inhuman attitude.” NCP(SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase added, “This is blatant cheating. The Mahayuti government lured women with promises of financial aid before elections, and now they are withdrawing support.”
The Ladki Bahin Yojana was considered a crucial factor in the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance securing 230 out of 288 seats in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.