District Collector IAS Jalaj Sharma, Resident Deputy Collector Rajendra Wagh, Deputy Collector (Admin) Bhimraj Darade along with other senior officials at a review meeting.
As part of what the state terms a ‘special arrangement’ and for bearing extra manpower expenses, the Maharashtra government on August 20 allowed district collectors to utilise 1% of 3% funds, allocated to the Women and Child Development projects under the general schemes category, on Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
In the District Annual Plans under the general schemes category, 3% funds are given for undertaking various projects of the Women and Child Development Department.
However, the government has clarified that this ‘special arrangement’ has been introduced for the fiscal year 2024-25 only and for bearing expenses incurred on extra manpower for large scale publicity of the scheme, scrutiny and approval of received applications, resolving technical glitches etc and for bearing the costs towards other administrative operations.
The remaining 2% funds should be spent for realising the original purpose of the funds i.e. W&CD projects under the general schemes category, the government said. On July 7 this year, the District Planning and Development Committee (DPC) headed by Nashik Guardian Minister Dada Bhuse sanctioned an annual expenditure of Rs 1,263 crore and 50 lakh. The DPC has District Collector Jalaj Sharma as its Member Secretary.
Out of the total district annual outlay of Rs 1,263 crore and 50 lakh, Rs 813 crore has been allocated to the general schemes category. As per the government order, the Nashik Collector will be required to spend around Rs 25 lakh, 1% of 3% of Rs 813 crore, in the financial year 2024-25 for bearing expenses towards extra manpower and other costs for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana
In 2020, the then state government mandated that the DPCs must set aside 3% of funds in their annual plans for undertaking various projects of W&CD department, under the geneal schemes category.
So far, over 1 crore women have received the finacial assistance for July and August months under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which the women in the age group of 21 to 65 years bracket are eligible to get monthly aid of Rs 1,500 directly into their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) route. The Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently said the state government has earmarked Rs 35,000 crore for Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for the fiscal year 2024-25.
