A recently launched scheme by the Maharashtra government for women and girls, Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, is under fire for inadequate guidelines and a massive promotion budget. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has opposed the Rs 199. 81 crore on publicity for the scheme, which is quite amusing given that relatively few beneficiaries of the scheme have received the first installment of the financial assistance.
In response to this, Aditi Tatkare, the state women and child development minister, said that the scheme had been well accepted by women, resulting in ‘panic’ among the opposition. She said that the government draws separate budgets for creating awareness of the flagship schemes for the larger public interest, and the campaigns were prior to COVID-19.
Wadettiwar went online to comment on the prime minister’s complaint, stating that it clearly indicated an element of waste in relation to government advertising going forward. Outreach has been minimal at best, yet the cost reached its peak.
He termed a previous Government Resolution that earmarked Rs 270 crore for more numerous and generic promotional activities as worrying because the Government was spending more on advertising than providing direct help.
Therefore, the timing of the resolution’s issuance on a national holiday, August 15, challenged Wadettiwar’s criticism as being the product of an ineffective government whose efficiency in responding to public issues is attendant to regular business days. He complained of non-support to farmers, students, and youths, saying that the government is focused on politicking rather than providing crucial services.
Amid escalating political tension regarding the next assembly polls, Wadettiwar’s statement seems to reflect increasing pressures for corporate accountability. The emphasis is shifting more to concerns about the efficacy of the policies; hence, the issues of resource mobilization in Maharashtra are brought to the agenda.
