The Maharashtra government won't stop the Ladki Bahin scheme and is committed to creating one crore 'Lakhpati Didis', who will earn over ₹1 lakh every year, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday while launching the State-wide Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan at Kingaon in Phulambri taluka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on the occasion of Marathwada Liberation Day.

Under the government's flagship Ladki Bahin scheme, eligible women beneficiaries receive monthly assistance of ₹1,500. Mr. Fadnavis emphasised that the government aims to go beyond this financial assistance and make women self-employed. "Women, our beloved sisters, won't subsist on only ₹1,500 but will be self-employed. We aim to create one crore 'Lakhpati Didis'," he said.

To achieve this goal, the government will develop women-led credit societies in villages, which will create employment opportunities. Additionally, women will be provided with an interest-free loan of ₹1 lakh, he said.

The State government aims to reach every village with Central and State schemes through the campaign.

'40,000 model villages'

The Chief Minister said the government plans to transform 28,000 gram panchayats and 40,000 villages into model villages.

The Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan will be implemented across Maharashtra from September 17 to December 31, with a focus on Sushasan Yukt Panchayat (good governance-oriented panchayats), Arthik Sashaktikaran (building financial capability), Jal Samrudha Hirve Gaon (water-abundant and green villages), work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), strengthening of societies, and empowering women, as per the Chief Minister's Office.

As part of the initiative, a scheme to boost village-level societies will be launched, enabling them to carry out 17 types of businesses, the CM said, adding that the government will also give away awards worth Rs. 250 crore to well-performing villages.

In a separate development, Minister Sanjay Shirsat, who hails from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, urged the government to announce a package for the welfare of people and complete pending projects for the Marathwada region, comprising eight districts: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad, and Hingoli.

'EV capital'

Mr. Fadnavis said Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will become the country's electric vehicle (EV) capital as it is a "favourite investment destination". At the Marathwada Mukti Sangram memorial at Siddharth Garden in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, he said, "Hyundai's investment shows that companies are preferring cities like Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar."

The Chief Minister also inaugurated a railway line and flagged off the inaugural train from Beed to Ahilyanagar, along with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The 67.78-km Amalner (B)-Beed railway line is part of the Ahilyanagar-Beed-Parli Vaijnath project, which aims to provide rail connectivity to previously unconnected areas in Marathwada. The Ahilyanagar-Amalner stretch, covering 99.03 km, is already operational, as per the Central Railway.

Protesters raise black flags

However, Mr. Fadnavis's speech was interrupted by protesters who raised black flags and slogans against the government's decision to allow eligible Maratha community members to secure Kunbi caste certificates. The protesters were reportedly upset over the government resolution (GR) and were demanding justice for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Mr. Fadnavis responded by saying that the protesters were disrespecting the freedom fighters who fought for the independence of Marathwada. "On such an important day, some people are coming here and raising slogans for the sake of publicity," he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve blamed the police administration for the "security lapse" and alleged that the government was facilitating division among communities in Maharashtra.

Mr. Pawar, Beed Guardian Minister, shared plans to extend the railway line to Pune and Mumbai. Mr. Fadnavis termed the railway line inauguration a "gift" dedicated to late BJP leader Gopinath Munde. The Chief Minister also announced that an infrastructure war room had been set up to speed up railway work and other projects. "It is people's responsibility to take care of the train," Mr. Pawar said.

Won't scrap Ladki Bahin scheme, aim to create 1 crore 'Lakhpati Didis': Fadnavis