Maharashtra Cancels Anandacha Shidha Scheme for 2025 Amid Financial Crunch, Sparks Political Uproar

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Monday announced that the popular Anandacha Shidha scheme, which provides subsidised festival ration kits to low-income families, will not be implemented this year due to severe financial constraints, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal confirmed.

Speaking to the media, Bhujbal stated, “We had proposed to the finance department to start distribution during Ganeshotsav and Diwali. However, the department informed us that due to financial limitations, it is not possible to implement the scheme this year.”

The minister cited heavy spending on flood compensation and the Ladki Bahin women’s welfare programme as the main reasons behind the decision. “We are spending Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 crore annually on Ladki Bahin alone. Naturally, this reduces the budget available for other welfare initiatives,” he explained. Bhujbal also highlighted that the Public Works Department has a backlog of Rs 94,000 crore, which has delayed payments to contractors and stalled new projects.

The decision immediately triggered political backlash. Opposition leader and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar accused the government of using financial excuses to mask corruption within the scheme. “Thousands of crores have been misappropriated in Anandacha Shidha over the past two years. Each kit was bought for Rs 350, while the actual cost was Rs 250,” Pawar alleged, claiming that a company linked to a BJP MLC benefited unduly, though he did not name the legislator.

Bhujbal rejected these allegations, stating, “All tenders were issued transparently, and procurement rates are publicly available. The cost also includes packaging and transportation,” as reported by Hindustan Times.

Meanwhile, NCP-SP state president Shashikant Shinde accused the government of political motivations, asserting that the scheme was scrapped solely because it had been introduced by Eknath Shinde during his tenure as chief minister.

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