Women in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh are likely to continue as the focus group for political parties with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan promising ‘another gift’ for ‘sisters’ ahead of Raksha Bandhan festival that will be celebrated on August 30.
This gift might either be in the form of increasing the amount of monthly cash assistance under ‘Ladli Behna’ scheme or announcing domestic gas cylinder for Rs 500, sources say.
At an event in Rewa district where he transferred Rs 1,209 crore to over 1.25 crore women as the third monthly installment under the Ladli Behna scheme, Chouhan urged the women to celebrate Raksha Bandhan – a festival of bonding between brothers and sisters – with him on August 27, ahead of the festival.
“We will celebrate the festival with full fervour and happiness. I will be at one place and you all gather in your (respective) villages to celebrate with me. On this occasion your brother will think of giving you another gift so that your life becomes easier further,” Chouhan said. The CM is likely to address the women through television on August 27.
It is the custom for brothers to give gifts to sisters after getting tied with Rakhi thread from them on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. The chief minister has been promising that by and by, the cash assistance under Ladli Behna scheme will be increased to Rs 3,000 with an increase of Rs 250 at a time. The Congress has promised assistance of Rs 1,500 per month when its government is formed after elections at the end of the year.
The Congress has also promised domestic gas cylinders – that cost roughly Rs 1,150-1,300 in various parts of state at Rs 500. Sources say that the Chouhan-led government might pre-empt this promise and announce gas cylinders at subsidized cost ahead of elections, and most probably on Raksha Bandhan.
During his Rewa visit, the CM also participated in a road show ‘Jan Darshan’ as part of the month-long Vikas Parva being conducted by the government. He performed foundation stone laying ceremonies and inaugurations of development works worth Rs 161.35 crore on the occasion.
Speaking at the Ladli Behna convention held as part of the visit, Chouhan said that his government has taken many decisions for the empowerment of women. Apart from the cash assistance under Ladli Behna and financial support to girl children under the Ladli Laxmi scheme, girl students are being given free education; 50 per cent seats in local civic bodies have been reserved for women to increase their respect in society.