Cash DBT schemes are gaining popularity, with Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Scheme (LBS) leading the way by providing Rs 1,500 to women aged 21 to 65 with an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh. While not universal, the scheme has already received over two crore applications, with the promise of doubled benefits if the chief minister is re-elected.
Inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Behena Scheme, which targeted financial assistance for women’s empowerment and skill development, LBS aims to lift women out of poverty through cash transfers. Interestingly, the Ladli Lakshmi scheme in Madhya Pradesh focused on the girl child to improve the sex ratio by providing deferred payments of over Rs 1 lakh at age 21.
With an estimated cost of Rs 46,000 crore per year for Maharashtra’s LBS, the scheme aligns with the goals of UBI and aims to empower women economically. As more states adopt similar cash transfer schemes, the focus on financial empowerment and skill development for women continues to grow.
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