Maharashtra Reduces Women’s Welfare Aid | 17 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

The Maharashtra government has reduced stipends for around eight lakh beneficiaries of the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana as they also receive benefits under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi (NSMN) scheme. 

 Key Points 

  • Reduction in Monthly Assistance: 
    • Under the revised structure, affected women will now receive Rs 500 per month instead of Rs 1,500 under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. 
    • The reduction applies to those already receiving Rs 1,000 monthly under the NSMN scheme. 
      • As per the scheme’s guidelines, the total government aid per woman cannot exceed Rs 1,500. 
  • Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana: 
    • About: 
      • Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched in 2024, is a flagship welfare programme aimed at supporting women financially across Maharashtra. 
    • Benefits: 
      • The original Rs 1,500 monthly payout was designed to empower women economically and enhance their social security. 
      • Beneficiaries receive three free LPG cylinders each year. 
      • Poor girls from Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) are eligible for fee waivers during college admissions. 
    • Eligibility: 
      • The scheme covers women aged 21 to 65 including married, widowed, divorced, abandoned, and destitute women. 
  • Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi (NSMN) Scheme: 
    • About: 
    • Eligibility: 
      • Farmers must be registered under PM-KISAN. 
      • Must meet Maharashtra’s criteria for small or marginal farmers. 
    • Benefits: 
      • Provides Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments of Rs 2,000. 
      • This is over and above the Rs 6,000 received under PM-KISAN, totaling Rs 12,000 annually. 

 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) 

  • Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an amount of Rs 6,000 per year, in three equal installments, directly into the bank accounts of all landholding farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings. 
    • It was launched in February 2019. 
  • It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India. 
  • It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 
  • The entire responsibility of identification of beneficiary farmer families rests with the State / UT Governments. 
  • Objective: 
    • To supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle. 
    • To protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.