Maharashtra Budget: Ladki Bahin scheme takes center stage amid opposition criticism

Maharashtra Finance Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented the state budget for the financial year 2025-26 on Monday, making significant allocations aimed at women empowerment and infrastructure development. However, the budget – Ajit Pawar’s 11^th till date – has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, who labelled it as a “bogus budget” lacking substance and practicality.

The Maharashtra government has announced a substantial allocation of Rs 36,000 crore for the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, aimed at uplifting women across the state. Since its inception in July 2024, the scheme has provided financial benefits to around 2.53 crore women, with an expenditure of Rs 33,232 crore.

Ajit Pawar admitted that the scheme has played a pivotal role in the ruling Mahayuti government coming to power in 2024 and expressed gratitude to the women of Maharashtra.

The Ladki Bahin scheme aims to promote vocational education for girls by offering 100 per cent reimbursement of education and examination fees for girls from families with an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh.

To further bolster women’s participation in technology, the state government has announced an agreement with tech giant Microsoft to provide training in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to thousands of women, enabling them to upskill and secure employment in emerging sectors.

“In addition to direct financial support, the Ladki Bahin scheme has indirectly boosted women-led economic activities, as some women’s groups have utilised the subsidy as seed capital for small-scale enterprises. Special schemes are being planned to further incentivise such entrepreneurial ventures, with a focus on sustainable economic independence,” the finance minister said.

Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana -- the National Rural Livelihood Mission -- the government said it had facilitated the emergence of around 22 lakh women as “Lakhpati Didis” and aims to add another 24 lakh women to this in the financial year 2025-26.

A budget of tall claims

Despite the ambitious announcements, the budget faced severe criticism from the opposition, especially from former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who slammed it as a “bogus budget”. Thackeray questioned the government’s promise of increasing the Ladki Bahin scheme’s financial benefit to Rs 2,100 per month, alleging that the promised hike has yet to materialise. He accused the government of misleading the public with grand announcements that lack actual implementation.

“The budget feels like a fairy tale where promises are made without any ground reality. The government’s slogan of food and shelter for everyone remains unfulfilled, as essential commodity prices continue to rise,” said Thackeray. He further mocked the budget’s optimistic outlook, likening it to a declaration that the sun will rise, and everyone will receive vitamin D.

Financial challenges

Acknowledging the challenges of maintaining financial discipline, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the proposed increase to Rs 2,100 under the Ladki Bahin scheme is still under consideration. He stressed the need to balance budgetary provisions while ensuring sustainable implementation of welfare schemes. “The increase will be phased, and for now, women will continue to receive Rs 1,500 per month. We are committed to fulfilling our promises while maintaining the budget’s financial balance,” said Fadnavis.

Infrastructure and development boost

Apart from women-centric schemes, the budget has laid emphasis on infrastructure, logistics, and urban development. The Maharashtra government has earmarked Rs 7.20 lakh crore as the total expenditure for the year 2025-26, with revenue collection estimated at Rs 5,60,964 crore and revenue expenditure at Rs 6,06,855 crore, resulting in a projected deficit of Rs 45,891 crore.

Some major allocations include:

• Public Works Department: Rs 1,367 crore

• Tourism and Cultural Affairs: Rs 3,159 crore

• General Administration Department: Rs 2,899 crore

• Women and Child Development Department: Rs 31,907 crore

• School Education and Sports Department: Rs 3,496 crore

• Water Supply and Sanitation Department: Rs 3,875 crore

• Higher and Technical Education Department: Rs 3,098 crore

• Public Health Department: Rs 3,827 crore

In addition, the government has allocated Rs 8,000 crore for urban wastewater recycling and plans to expand metro connectivity in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. A grand memorial for Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at Tulapur and a memorial for Maratha warriors in Panipat, Haryana, have also been announced.

Economic projections and job creation

Maharashtra’s economy is projected to grow at 7.3 per cent in 2024-25, surpassing the national average of 6.5 per cent. The state government has committed to creating 16 lakh new jobs over the next few years, while Mumbai’s economy is expected to grow from $140 billion to $300 billion.

Deputy CM Pawar credited the Union Budget’s provisions for enabling substantial funding for state projects in an indication of the state’s own precarious financial condition.

Despite the government’s optimistic projections, opposition leaders remain sceptical. They argue that while announcements are impressive on paper, ground-level execution remains a challenge. “The government is making tall claims about growth and employment without addressing fundamental issues like inflation and farmer loan waivers,” said an opposition leader.

As the budget debates continue, the government’s ability to deliver on its promises will be closely monitored. For now, the Ladki Bahin scheme remains a central talking point, with both praise and criticism echoing through Maharashtra’s political corridors.