State diverts SC, ST funds for Ladki Bahin

The cash-strapped Maharashtra government has diverted a budgetary allocation of ₹746 crore meant for Schedule Castes (SCs) and Schedule Tribes (STs) to the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, its flagship welfare scheme for women, according to a government resolution (GR) issued on Friday.

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI: The decision, which is yet another indicator of the fiscal strain the Maharashtra government is under, goes against guidelines issued by the union finance commission, officials said.

According to the GR, the state has sanctioned the utilisation of ₹410.30 crore out of the ₹3,960 crore allocated for scheme expenditure by the social justice department and ₹335.70 crore of the ₹3,240 crore allocated for the tribal development department for the Ladki Bahin scheme. The diverted funds would be utilised for Ladki Bahin beneficiaries belonging to the SC and ST socioeconomic groups, the GR said.