- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sun, 04 May 2025 01:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin scheme, which offers Rs 1,500 monthly to eligible women, has sparked discontent due to the diversion of funds from the social justice and tribal development departments. Expressing his frustration, Minister Sanjay Shirsat said, “There is a limit to patience.”
Shirsat said he came to know through the media that nearly Rs 425 crore had been diverted from his department. He added that this was not the first instance, noting that around Rs 7,000 crore had been diverted earlier as well. He said, "If there is no need for the social justice department, or if there is no need to spend money on it, then it might as well be shut down. Why do we need this department? This department is for dalits and backward sections of society. The existing funds, anyway, fall short for the department. I have been saying that funds from this department cannot be diverted. It is binding on the government to provide funds. I'll raise this matter with the chief minister."
"Call it injustice, or anything else. I'll raise this issue with the CM as it is not within the legal framework to divert funds of this department. The finance department personnel are working arbitrarily. They show that it is within the legal framework to divert funds, but it is wrong, and I strongly oppose it," he added.
He alleged that finance department officials were acting unilaterally, imposing their decisions without consultation, and behaving as if only their authority mattered. Shirsat emphasized that funds legally allocated to departments cannot be arbitrarily cut or diverted.
Shirsat also highlighted that his department has outstanding commitments totaling Rs 1,500 crore from the previous year. He added that he was unaware whether similar diversions had affected other departments.
The state government has passed a resolution reallocating Rs 410.3 crore from the Social Justice Department and Rs 335.7 crore from the Tribal Development Department to the Women and Child Development Department. This funding shift is intended to support the monthly Rs 1,500 payments to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme, which reportedly benefits around one crore women across the state.
In a separate incident, Minister Sanjay Shirsat criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) for not attending the all-party meeting convened in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. He said that Sena (UBT) should learn from AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who issued strong anti-Pakistan statements. Shirsat also pointed out that even parties like the Congress have come forward to support the government during this critical time.