Maharashtra’s Maha Budget Relaxations For Women

OVERVIEW

The budget for the state of Maharashtra, for the financial year 2021-22 was presented by the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on the 8th of March, 2021, as the world celebrated International Women’s Day. It was also announced that a revenue deficit of Rs. 10,226 crores in the State Legislative Assembly were observed. The shortfall in revenue was greatly owed to the Covid19 pandemic breakout which slowed down not only the economy of the state but also of the nation as a whole.

The Government, however is running on a shortfall, announced schemes for the upliftment and empowerment of women and girl children in the budget even at the risk of enduring a bit more deficit in their revenue. The Government recognises the significance of increased accessibility of opportunities by the residents of the State and wants to facilitate their cause on the International Women’s Day, the day such budget was announced.

In the annual budget proposed by the Maharashtra Government for the year 2021-22, a number of welfare measures were taken for the facilitation of the women citizens of the State. Schemes such as concessions in stamp duty for property registration, free travel for girls in rural areas, special buses for women in urban pockets and establishment of a first women battalion of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) were announced by the Deputy Chief Minister of the State, Ajit Pawar. 

SCHEMES

The State Finance Minister announced a reduction of stamp duty on property from 4% of the value of the property to 1% if such property is solely registered in the name of a woman in order to provide impetus to women to own properties in their name. Such scheme was announced under the Rajmata Jijau Griha-Swamini Yojana, and such a scheme is expected to contribute to a further shortfall of Rs. 1000 crore in the revenue of the State.

The Government also announced free travel on Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses for girl students in rural areas of the State under the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule scheme.

1,500 environment-friendly CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and hybrid buses were to be made available for girl students for travelling to and from schools of Maharashtra.

A provision of Rs 2,270 crore in the budget for the development of the department of women and children were to be made under the “Tejasvini Yojna” scheme for easy and safe travel of women in metro cities. An approximate 3% of the funds of the District Plans were to be reserved for women and children.

The Sant Janabai Social Security and Welfare Scheme for women domestic workers was also announced considering that their condition has deteriorated during the lockdown imposed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Finance Minister further announced its plan for the establishment of a first women battalion of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) in the State of Maharashtra.

FURTHER DETAILS

“I propose concession in stamp duty of 1 per cent over the prevailing rate exclusively to women provided the transfer of house property or registration of sale deed is in the name of woman or women only,” said the Minister. He went on to clarify that in case of joint ownership, both the owners should be women in order to avail such concession.

In relation to the scheme for free transport of girl students in the name of social reformer Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, the Finance Minister said, “The state has taken many progressive steps for the education of girls. Education for girls till 12th standard is free. I am now announcing a scheme for free travel of girl students in rural areas, from their villages to schools and colleges by the Maharashtra State Transport buses.”

“To empower women and children, it has been decided to reserve 3% funds from the District Annual Plan. I believe that around Rs 300 crore will be available every year,” he added while announcing the formation of the first woman battalion in the SRPF.

CONCLUSION 

The Government of Maharashtra has, in a way, gifted the women of the citizens of the state with various schemes dedicated to ensure empowerment, upliftment and ease of accessibility of opportunities at their disposal, in their budget announced on the International Women’s Day, the 8th of March, 2021. The Government further stated that they would prefer a deficit in their revenue over the availability of optimum opportunities and resources for the women, and such shortfall would be attempted to be mitigated by introducing other avenues of revenue collection, like bringing about a hike in the tax of liquor, etc.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SUCH OPPORTUNITIES MADE AVAILABLE TO WOMEN IN MAHARASHTRA? WOULD YOU LIKE FOR THE CITIZENS OF YOUR STATE TO BE ABLE TO AVAIL SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES? DO LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!