Bombay HC Directs State to Implement Ladki Bahin Scheme
Category: Civil Law
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INTRODUCTION:
The PIL petition is dismissed by the Bombay high court filed by the NGO Prameya Welfare Foundation highlighting the challenges faced by the eligible women in filing the applications under âMukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana'. It is important to note that the women from weaker economic conditions in Maharashtra who fall under the eligibility criteria of the scheme are entitled to get the financial benefit and it is the duty of the state to monitor and ensure its benefits go to the hands of all the eligible women of Maharashtra. Â
BACKGROUND:
The âMukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojanaâ is a scheme that provides women from the weaker sections of the economy in Maharashtra with monthly financial benefits. It was launched in June 2024 due to a lot of technical errors and lack of knowledge in filing the applications the women have not been widely benefited. The state government revised the scheme at least twice to address the difficulties.Â
The petitioners have filed the public interest litigation to address the challenges faced by the womanâs in filing the application under the scheme and to seek the appropriate measures to be taken by the state in implementing the scheme and to ensure all the eligible women could access to the benefits of the scheme Â
KEY POINTS:
Government response - The Deputy Secretary of the concerned department presented an affidavit detailing the steps taken by the state for the effective implementation of the scheme. The government had set up 11 facilitation centers for filling the application. Despite these efforts, In 2,51,66,912 applications, out of which 2,43,62,330 were deemed eligible, and around 90,000 applications were rejected.
Government resolution - In the beginning, there were 11 facilitation centers for submitting applications. However, following a Government Resolution (GR) dated September 6, 2024, the 11 facilitation centers have been replaced by Anganwadi Sevika in Anganwadi centers, who are now empowered to accept applications. This makes the process more complicated and a further barrier for rural women in making applications and thereby availing themselves of the scheme.
Apprehension of future changes - The petitioner added the light to the apprehension of the changes/alteration in the scheme which leads to difficulties in uploading the fresh applications. A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar took the note of the affidavit filed by the state and ordered the state to ensure the proper implementation of the scheme and its availability to all the eligible women of Maharashtra.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT:
On the hearing of January 2nd 2025, the court stated the importance of government's role in implementing the scheme and it acknowledged the affidavit filed by the deputy secretary of concerned department stating all the measure taken by the government in implementing the scheme. Despite the efforts the petitioners concerned about the future changes/alterations in the scheme which further impose the difficulties to the women to file a application. In response to the petitioners concerned the court order the state to take effective measure in following casesÂ
Fresh applications in case of change - In case of any altercation/changes in the scheme the state should ensure that it wonât affect the eligible women who have access to the application process.
ensure support for eligible women - the court emphasized the importance of facilitating support to all the eligible women and to monitor that they have the opportunity to access the benefits under the scheme.
CONCLUSION:
In this order of Bombay high court highlights the importance of the state duty and obligations to monitor the proposed schemeâs implementation in the society and ensure it achieves the purpose of the said scheme, in this case it deals about the "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana " scheme and its accessibility to all the eligible women of Maharashtra. The court acknowledged the affidavit filed by the state and dismissed the public interest litigation(PIL) petition.Â
