No Proposal to Increase Ladli Behna Yojana Amount, Says Minister

A fresh debate has erupted in Madhya Pradesh over the Ladli Behna Yojana, after the state's Women and Child Development Minister, Nirmala Bhuria, clarified that there is currently no proposal to increase the scheme’s financial assistance or add new beneficiaries. Her statement, made in the state assembly, has triggered a political stir, with the Congress party attacking the government over the issue.

According to Navbharat Times, the scheme, launched in 2023, was considered a game-changer in the state’s politics, playing a crucial role in the BJP’s electoral success in the assembly elections. The scheme’s impact was so significant that similar initiatives were either launched or promised in other states.

Minister’s Statement Creates Political Uproar

Responding to a question in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Minister Nirmala Bhuria stated that the government has no plans to raise the scheme’s financial aid to ₹3,000 or enroll new beneficiaries. The Ladli Behna Yojana currently provides ₹1,250 per month to eligible women, and this process continues without disruption under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Beneficiary List Updates and Removals

The minister also provided data on recent beneficiary removals from the scheme:

35 women were found ineligible after verification and were removed from the list.

15,748 women were removed after their death.

3,19,991 women were automatically excluded upon turning 60, as per scheme guidelines.

This process, she clarified, was predefined and communicated at the time of the scheme’s launch.

No Plan to Raise the Assistance Amount

Addressing speculations about an increase in financial assistance, Minister Bhuria confirmed that there is no proposal under consideration at the departmental level to raise the amount to ₹3,000.

The opposition, especially the Congress party, has used this statement to criticize the BJP government, questioning its commitment to women’s welfare. However, the government maintains that the scheme is running smoothly and continues to benefit lakhs of women across Madhya Pradesh.