Women Welfare Schemes Extended For Another 5 Years

The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to extend its two flagship women welfare schemes, Ladli Behna and Ladli Laxmi, by another five years.

A proposal to the effect was cleared by the state cabinet which met here under the chairmanship of chief minister Mohan Yadav.

Around 1.27 crore women, beneficiaries of the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana’ in Madhya Pradesh receive a monthly incentive of Rs 1,500 under the scheme.

The scheme, launched around four months ahead of the November 2023 Assembly elections by the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, costs the state exchequer around Rs 20,000 crore every year.

Chief minister Mr. Yadav had earlier indicated that the scheme had burdened the state heavily financially but assured that it will continue despite this.

Similarly, the Ladli Laxmi Yojana which was also introduced during the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government on April one, 2007, assures assistance of Rs 1,43,000 each to around 51 lakh beneficiaries at different stages towards their education, health and marriage expenses.

The state government plans to spend Rs 1,14,365 crore over next five years for the implementation of Ladli Behna scheme and Rs 16,326 crore over next five years for the implementation of Ladli Laxmi scheme.

The cabinet also approved a proposal to continue the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana from 2026-27 to 2030-31.

The Centre bears 60 percent of the cost of the scheme leaving the state to bear the remaining 40 percent.

The state government has also decided to support the ‘Narmda Mission’, launched with the objective of taking forward the conservation and development works related to the Narmada in an institutional manner.