In a major decision ahead of the assembly elections, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the ‘Ladla Bhai Yojana’ for boys on the lines of the already announced Ladli Behan Yojna for girls. He declared his plan of extending substantial financial help and skill development to the youth of Maharashtra on this auspicious day of Ashadhi Ekadashi from the famous Vitthal temple in Pandharpur.
Under the ‘Ladla Bhai Yojana’, there is a provision of a monthly grant to boys according to their qualifications. Graduate boys will get Rs 10,000 per month, while those pursuing diploma will get Rs 8000, and Rs 6000 per month will be given to those who have passed the 12th standard. This is financial aid in support of their education and alleviating them from financial burdens.
One of the unique selling points of the programme is the one-year factory-based apprenticeship. This will put them into the practical fields of work, and at the end of their training, these young men and women will have job-ready exposure, helping the youth emerge proficient in their chosen fields. The government is also to provide stipends for the apprenticeship during that period. This makes up one of the major features of the programme: skills acquisition and employment.
CM Shinde described the ‘Ladla Bhai Yojana’ as a historic scheme, stating that no government has ever initiated and worked on such an extensive scheme for boys. He further added that the intervention of the program is not only to offer a skilled workforce within the boundaries of Maharashtra but all over the country to various industries. Through practical training and financial support, the state government aims to increase the employability of young men in the state by tackling the problem of unemployment.
The ‘Ladla Bhai Yojana’ comes after the newer scheme, ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, to give eligible women in the age group of 21-60 years an amount of ₹1,500 every month. The goals, therefore, were all-round progress and empowerment of the female section in terms of economic independence, self-reliance, health, and nutrition. The annual budget outlay has been ₹46,000 crore towards women’s empowerment in Maharashtra.
