Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that social revolution is taking place in Madhya Pradesh for women empowerment. Schemes like Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, Ladli Laxmi Yojana, 50 percent reservation for women in local elections, reservation in police recruitment, Livelihood Mission and Sambal are being implemented successfully. Now the Ladli Bahna Yojana has been started, which will not only lead to overall development of women, but will also increase their respect and self-confidence in the society.
Chouhan was addressing the Ladli Bahna Sammelan at Lanji in Balaghat district on Monday. He distributed benefits under various schemes to the women. Initially, Chouhan performed Kanya-Pujan and welcomed the women by showering flowers. Women presented rakhis to the Chief Minister. Chouhan handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to Anjali Choure, who runs Didi Cafe under the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
The Chief Minister said that the aim of my life is the welfare of my sisters. My life will become fruitful if there is a smile on the lips of my sisters. The respect of women is highest in Madhya Pradesh. Women need not tolerate any kind of injustice, your brother is always with you. There is no need to worry for the marriage of sisters and daughters, Shivraj Mama will take care of the arrangements of their marriage.
Chouhan said that before becoming the Chief Minister, me and my wife would make arrangements to get girls hailing from poor families married. When I became the Chief Minister, I first started the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Yojana. The previous government did not give the benefit of this scheme to anyone. Now we have decided that under this scheme a cheque of Rs 50,000 will be given to the daughters and Rs 6,000 to the organizing marriages.
Chouhan said that daughters are now considered a boon instead of a curse in Madhya Pradesh. In the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana, Rs 30,000 are deposited in the name of a girl child as soon as she is born, so that she gets funds from time to time for her studies etc. Today there are 44.50 lakh Ladli Lakshmis in Madhya Pradesh. Their Mama also pays the fees for the education and higher education of the daughters.
Chief Minister Chouhan said that today a large number of sisters are representing in the panchayats. They have got political empowerment. In Madhya Pradesh, 50 percent seats in panchayats have been reserved for sisters. Women are also being given reservation in police recruitment. Self-help groups of women are formed by the Rural and Urban Livelihood Mission and financial and other assistance is provided to them for various activities. In this way their economic and social empowerment is taking place. At the same time, their self-confidence is being boosted.
Chouhan said that ever since he became the Chief Minister this time, the idea was constantly coming in his mind as to what gift he should give to the sisters. I thought of giving gifts to sisters not once but every month. Last January 28 at 4 am the concept of Ladli Bahna Yojana came to my mind and I decided that every month I will put 1000 rupees in the accounts of poor and lower middle class sisters.
The benefit of Ladli Bahna Yojana will be given to all those sisters whose family's annual income is less than two and a half lakh rupees. Sisters will not have to give any income certificate for this. Just a form has to be filled, which our employees will come to your village/locality and get it filled. Along with this, they will also get your e-KYC done.
Chouhan said that the filling of forms for Ladli Bahna Yojana will start from March 25, which will continue till April 30. Money will start coming into the accounts of the sisters from coming June 10.