Mumbai: The populist schemes announced by Eknath Shinde as the chief minister in the Mahayuti 1.0 government before the Maharashtra assembly polls have found no mention in the budget announced by Mahayuti 2.0, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
This comes amid an alleged cold war between Fadnavis and his deputy Shinde.
Schemes like Anandacha Shidha, Mukhyamantri Tirtha Darshan Yojana and Shiv Bhojan Thali were omitted from the budget presented Monday, which was devised keeping fiscal discipline in mind. “This does not mean that the schemes are shut down. We will even put up supplementary demands in future for these schemes,” Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik told ThePrint.
The Anandacha Shidha scheme was first introduced in 2022 on Diwali to provide essential food items, like sugar, semolina, chana dal and oil, at concessional rates to families with saffron ration cards. The Tirtha Darshan Yojana facilitates pilgrimage for senior citizens. The scheme was announced in last year’s budget and Rs 30 crore was allotted for it.
The Shiv Bhojan scheme was announced by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and was a part of the undivided Shiv Sena’s manifesto. This is meant to provide a plate of food for Rs 10 to the needy. Even after Shiv Sena’s split, Shinde continued with this scheme. The state government has been spending nearly Rs 250 crore annually on it.
“There is no cold war as such,” Minister Shambhuraj Desai told ThePrint. “Is there any government resolution that says these schemes are shut? The schemes are still open,” Desai insisted.
However, the Opposition has lashed out at the government.
“When Shinde was the chief minister, there were multiple schemes, such as Ladki Bahin, Anandacha Shidha, Annapurna Yojana, pink rickshaw for women, Tirtha Darshan Yojana, Shiv Bhojan, etc. which were started during Covid. Though Ladki Bahin found a mention, there is no announcement of increasing the monthly stipend to Rs 2,100. Others have found no mention at all,” Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Waddettiwar told ThePrint. “Are they going to shut down these schemes? The government needs to answer.”
The schemes announced by Shinde as the chief minister became popular among the people.
For instance, Anandacha Shidha had become a talking point, especially during the festival seasons. First introduced on Diwali, the scheme was also implemented for other festivals, like Gudi Padwa, Ganeshotsav and Dussehra.
Initially, Rs 600 crore was spent on the scheme. Last year, Rs 160 crore was assigned.
Now with Gudi Padwa approaching, there has been suspense over whether the scheme will be continued or not.
A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, on the condition of anonymity, told ThePrint that though these schemes had become popular, it did not mean that everything should be mentioned in the budget. “The provision for these schemes can be made, whenever it is required. It was the need of the hour at that time to introduce these schemes. But now, they don’t need to be on the budget.”
Mahayuti leaders told ThePrint that the government, if need be, can make provisions for these schemes in the supplementary demands. “It is not like Shinde’s schemes have been curtailed. We have to put up the supplementary demands. If we want, we can get money for the scheme. Everything does not have to be in the budget,” said a leader from Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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