Maihar (Madhya Pradesh), Aug 19 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government will provide more than Rs 1.14 lakh crore to women under the Ladli Behna scheme over the next five years, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday, announcing continued financial support for the state’s women beneficiaries.
Yadav made the announcement while addressing a state-level Ladli Behna conference in Maihar, where he transferred Rs 2,148 crore to the bank accounts of more than 1.25 crore women as the 39th instalment of the scheme and a special Rakshabandhan payment.
“Today itself, we have given Naihar ki Neg (gift of the state government) from Maihar to all the dear sisters of the state,” Yadav said.
The transfer included the regular monthly assistance and an additional Rs 250 as Rakshabandhan ‘shagun’, taking the total amount transferred to each beneficiary on Wednesday to Rs 1,750.
The Chief Minister said the state cabinet had taken a decision to continue the financial assistance for the next five years, under which women would receive more than Rs 1.14 lakh crore.
Since the launch of the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana in June 2023, the state government has transferred Rs 63,248 crore to beneficiaries in 39 instalments, according to official figures.
A provision of Rs 23,882.81 crore has been made for the scheme in the 2026-27 budget.
Yadav said the monthly assistance was helping women meet small household requirements and become financially independent. He also highlighted efforts to expand women’s economic empowerment through self-help groups and employment-oriented industries, saying women working in such industries would receive a separate benefit of Rs 5,000 in their salaries.
“Rakshabandhan comes once a year, but our government is fulfilling the promise of protecting our sisters every month. The respect and economic empowerment of our sisters and daughters is our top priority,” Yadav said.
The Chief Minister also announced a series of development projects for the newly created Maihar district and inaugurated or performed bhoomi pujan for 25 works costing more than Rs 256 crore.
Among the announcements were the construction of a modern stadium at a cost of Rs 25 crore, renovation of Lilji reservoir for Rs 50 crore, a 132 KVA power sub-station at Badera Pahad and a large hospital with comprehensive facilities.
Yadav also laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the Maa Sharda Lok project, estimated to cost Rs 9 crore, and said the government was working on developing religious destinations across the state.
He said farmers in the Vindhya region would benefit from water from the Bargi Canal and reiterated the government’s focus on expanding irrigation facilities and promoting animal husbandry to increase farm incomes.
–IANS
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