In a joyful surprise that is sure to please millions of women all over Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced Friday that they would significantly increase the monthly financial payout in the ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’ from ₹1,250 to ₹1,500 starting beginning with Diwali.
Chief Minister Chouhan announced in a highly emotional speech at a major public event in Sehore, which is also his home district. Referring to the beneficiaries as “my Ladli Behnas”, Chouhan stated, “Tumhari Diwali aur khushhaal ho, isiliye humne socha ki tumhare khate mein ab ₹1,500 mahine dalenge. Ye sirf paisa nahi, tumhare samman ka prateek hai.”
Introduced in March 2023, Ladli Behna Yojana is a flagship welfare initiative to financially empower women in rural and urban areas of Madhya Pradesh. Women aged 21 to 60 years, non-income taxpayers, and from low-income families, are eligible for monthly direct benefit transfers (DBT).
The scheme started at ₹1,000 a month and then increased to ₹1,250 in mid-2024. Now, the government has increased it again to ₹1,500 and estimates a total budget of more than ₹24,000 crore will be needed per year for around 1.31 crore women.
The timing of the hike, just ahead of Diwali and possibly ahead of the 2025 municipal elections, is a well-calculated move aimed at retaining the trust of women voters, whom the BJP credited for their success in the 2023 state assembly elections, in the BJP’s good graces.
Additionally, the government appears to be embedding this increase into its notion of “development with dignity,” where assistance is not only relief, it also is a way to promote independence.
Chouhan said at the event: “Main chahta hoon ki meri Ladli Behnayein apna khud ka retail business karein, apna sapne sach karein. ₹1,500 ka hai – apka sapna, apka haq, aur apka izzat.”
Economists say that the scheme may be socially beneficial and needs to be managed with great fiscal prudence.
Dr. Pranav Dubey, an economist from Barkatullah University, said: “₹1,500 per woman per month may seem low, but when we take it into account for over a crore women, we are looking at a very substantial annual expenditure. Even so, if through sound fiscal management we can deliver it, it could boost rural consumption as well as women’s entrepreneurship.”
This surge comes at a politically sensitive time. Just a few months away from the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is expanding its access to women and rural voters, an area where it is under pressure from the Congress’s NYAY schemes.
According to insiders, the BJP’s internal review process on the idea of a hike had been ongoing for months, but was not confirmed until internal survey data showed it was losing some appeal to younger rural women.
Besides the ₹1,500 increase for the scheme, CM hinted at having “a Diwali special gift” for beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme, potentially offering them free refills on the LPG cylinder or an extended health insurance cover. However, it was not officially confirmed.
Summary of Eligibility Criteria:
- Women aged 21 to 60
- Not a taxpayer
- Family income less than ₹2.5 lakh per year
- Resident of Madhya Pradesh
- Not a government employee or pensioner
With this bold and generous initiative, the Madhya Pradesh government cannot only win hearts but also change the landscape of women-focused welfare programs in India. Whether this fiscal empowerment can turn into social change in the long term is a question for the future, but for now, for 1.31 crore Ladli Behnas, this Diwali is promising to be a brighter one.
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