A monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to women in the 21-60 age group, three free LPG cylinders a year for households, farmer-friendly steps and a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month to youths for skill training were highlights of the Maharashtra government’s budget for 2024-25 presented in the assembly on Friday, four months ahead of the state polls.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, presented a Rs 20,051-crore revenue deficit budget for the current fiscal even as he announced several sops for women, youths and farmers, among other sections, entailing an expenditure of more than Rs 80,000 crore.

An outlay of Rs 1.92 lakh crore was proposed under the scheme expenditure in the annual plan 2024-25.

Presenting his first full budget as the finance minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP government, Pawar announced a financial assistance scheme for women, ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’.

BJP’s Amit Malviya posted on X: “…Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi and Congress promised LIES खटा खट टका टक। But it is the NDA that delivered.”

A look at the top 12 highlights:

• Starting July, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme will transfer Rs 1,500 monthly to eligible women aged 21-60.
• The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana will provide three free LPG cylinders annually to over 52 lakh families.
• For unemployed youth, the CM Yuva Karya Prashikshan Scheme offers a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000 to 10 lakh interns.
• The government will waive Agri pump electricity bills for over 46 lakh farmers.Rs 5,000 per hectare assistance to the cotton and soybean farmers, in a limit of two hectares during Kharif season 2023-24.
• Subsidy to onion farmers – Rs. 851.66 crores, at a rate of Rs 350 per quintal, in 2023-24.
• Magel Tyala Solar Power Pump: To provide uninterrupted electricity to farmers during day time – worth Rs 15,000 crore – total of 8.50 lakh beneficiaries.
• Free higher education for girls – 100% reimbursement of education fees and examination fees to other backward classes and economically.
• So far, 15 lakh women ‘Lakhpati Didi’ through ‘Umaid Mart’ and “E-Commerce Online Platform” of goods manufactured by women self-help groups,- aim to make 25 lakh women Lakhpati this year.
• Fuel prices in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai will be reduced, with petrol prices cut by 65 paise per litre and diesel by Rs 2.07 per litre.
• Health insurance cover increased from Rs. 1,50,000 to Rs. 5 Lakhs per family-1900 hospital and 1356 types of treatment available.
• Furthermore, the government announced a Rs 20,000 grant to each Dindi participating in the Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadashi Vari.

With PTI Inputs