Bhopal/Silwani/Budhni/Sidhi: Dressed in bright red sarees, Sunita Bai, Sugan Bai and Krishna Bai take hurried but confident steps on their way back home from the main square of Budhni town in Madhya Pradesh.
The hot November sun makes the afternoon unbearable, but for Sunita Bai it has been a fruitful trip as she has withdrawn Rs 500 from the Rs 1,250 credited to her account as an instalment under the Ladli Behna Yojana.
“I was yet to receive my wages and urgently needed some cash. With money credited every month, there is some cushion to fall back on in times of crises,” she said.
While Sunita works as a daily wager in the nearby fields, Sugan’s family owns a small store at the village square and Krishna Bai is a homemaker. All three are beneficiaries of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s Ladli Behna Yojana. For the three women, the monthly sum of Rs. 1,250 each of them receives under the scheme is nothing short of a ‘blessing’ that has eased the financial stress back home.
The scheme was announced by Chouhan on 5 March and the first installment of Rs 1,000 was credited to 12 million beneficiaries on 12 June. Currently, it has 1.31 crore beneficiaries, according to the state’s women and child development commissioner R.R. Bhosle.
All women aged between 21 and 60, with less than five acres of land and an annual income of Rs 2.5 lakh or less, are eligible to apply under the scheme.
The scheme is being touted as a “game changer” by the BJP government with party leaders pointing out that it has helped tide over to some extent the over two-decade-long anti-incumbency it faces.
However, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath has termed the scheme the BJP government’s handout. He pointed out that the people of MP realise that the BJP has only thought of them after 18 years.
Women comprise 48.20 percent of the 5.39 crore voters in Madhya Pradesh, according to Election Commission data and it is believed that they have shown support to the BJP over the years which will hopefully increase “substantially” because of the scheme. The state goes to polls on 17 November and the votes will be counted 3 December.
While the scheme has put money in women’s accounts, it has left a section of men uneasy, even resentful. Many men ThePrint spoke to said that the money should have been given in some other form and not only to women.
A section of women beneficiaries also spoke of challenges in availing of benefits under the scheme, or complained of having been “left out”.
Last week, in an interview with ThePrint, senior BJP leader and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also countered Congress objections against government schemes by saying: “It has been a consistent theme throughout his (Chouhan’s) tenure…It started with a Lakshmi scheme to prevent infanticide that has resulted in a lowering of the IMR [infant mortality rate] …once the girls start going to school and perform well, they are given a scooty. The third step (is) when a girl gets married, leaves her maternal home to start a new life. The state government is present in that wedding through the Kanyadaan Yojana and the fourth, and a logical extension of that is the Laadli Benha scheme [for financial assistance].”
A senior government official, meanwhile, pointed out that the scheme was a natural progression of the women-centric schemes in the state. “It was the next step towards empowerment of women. The scheme is not a dole out, we are looking at empowering women. Earlier, the focus was on making their life easier when we gave subsidised LPG cylinders. Women are confined to home, but we have conceptualised the scheme in a way that the money is directly transferred to accounts of the women and can only be withdrawn with their consent,” the official said.
He added: “Real empowerment has come with husbands taking their wife on the bike to withdraw money from the account. At the same time, women will also have a say in how that money will be spent.”
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Banking on ‘silent voters’
The BJP’s confidence regarding the scheme ahead of the elections probably stems from the fact that women are believed to have played a significant role in the BJP surge in the country over the years. In fact, right after the 2020 elections in Bihar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thanked the women in the state. Referring to them as the “silent” voters, he said this group is repeatedly voting for the BJP.
BJP leaders explained that CM Chouhan earned the moniker of “Mama” (maternal uncle) due to a number of women-centric welfare schemes launched by his government — the Ladli Laxmi Yojana (a financial scheme to benefit girls), distribution of cycles to girls, and the Kanya Vivah Scheme, to name a few.
“There is no doubt that anti-incumbency and voter fatigue is a factor. But we have tried to address it through these schemes and the way they have been implemented smoothly will help us in reaching out to the women voters especially,” said a senior BJP leader.
Ahead of Raksha Bandhan in August, Chouhan increased the installments under Ladli Behna Yojana from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250. The MP government has allocated Rs 8,000 crore for this scheme in this year’s budget.
Lauding the efforts of CM Chouhan, Scindia asked if the scheme was not so great, “Why would Mr Kamal Nath come out with a Rs 1,500 scheme (for women)?”
Ahead of the assembly elections, Nath has reportedly been promising benefits for women if the Congress is voted to power in the state. The party in its poll manifesto, released in October, also promised to “give [LPG] cylinders at Rs 500” and a Rs 1500 pension for women.
BJP leaders ThePrint spoke to admitted that on ground some men are “uneasy” as women are the beneficiaries of most schemes brought in by the Chouhan government, but contended that it will not be a deciding factor in the elections. “Naturally, some men feel that the money should be given to the family and not just to the woman of the household. But ultimately, they know that the entire household is benefited from it. Also, we have a number of schemes for youth, farmers etc., and we are making them aware of that,” said a senior party leader.
‘Empowering women’
However, men ThePrint spoke to in the state continued to sound disgruntled.
Hemraj Asre, a daily wager in Budhni pointed out, “Instead of putting money in our account, the cylinders should have been given at a subsidized rate. Why this show off?”
According to Rajesh Mangol, a driver in Raisen district, the amount of Rs 1,000–Rs 1,250 is not enough, considering the unemployment levels in the state. “If not us, our children should get something. There are no jobs and this money alone is not sufficient. They are giving Rs 1,000 to my wife and after elections, they will increase the cylinder cost, diesel cost and in fact, they will end up taking back Rs 2,000,” he alleged.
He added: “I manage the (household) finances so I know this Rs 1,000-1,250 is nothing but a lollipop.”
“Ye women empowerment kaise hua? Arre bhai rozgaari do. Unko saksham banao apna kuch chhota mota business start karein. Paise nikalne bhi hum hee unko bike pe le kar jaate hai. Humare liye sarkar kya kar rahi hai (How is this women empowerment? Give them employment. Equip them to start a small business. Even for withdrawing money, we have to ferry them on our bikes. What is the government doing for us?),” said Kuldeep Singh, a Bhopal resident who ThePrint team met in Budhni, along with a group of “unemployed men” at around 1 pm on Wednesday.
But for a large section of women in Budhni, CM Chouhan’s home constituency, the money received under the Ladli Behna Yojana has been “a big relief” and has empowered them to support their family.
“Those men who do not earn are the ones talking against the scheme as they have to ask women for money…But our husbands are satisfied with what Shivraj Singh Chouhan has done,” claimed Sona Kevat, a Budhni resident.
She added: “I don’t have to depend on anyone to save money for my daughter. I use the money from Ladli Behna for it.”
“Some men are unhappy because the money is not going in their hands. They have to, probably for the first time, ask women when they run out of cash. They are not used to it. But I know whatever they may say, they know that the money is coming to the family only so in their heart, they are happy,” she further said.
Annu Rajak, a resident of Sonvarsha village in Sidhi district, has been getting an instalment under the Ladli Behna Yojana over the past five months. With her husband making just Rs 250 per day as a daily wager, she has been utilising the money to pay the school fees of her children.
“It is not every day that one ends up earning Rs 250, some days you go without work. In such times, the money under the scheme has been useful for me,” she said.
According to Sugan Bai (quoted above), “The benefits of Ladli Behna Yojana are a lot, we get money every month and it helps us in running our house smoothly. We can care for our children better, and we are happier. Now, we also hear that they will be transferring Rs 3,000 soon and our Diwali will be celebrated with much more joy.”
“My husband is the sole breadwinner of the family and the day he falls ill, it is this money that enables me to take him to the doctor,” said Sunita Bai (quoted above).
Dr. Veerandra Singh Matsaniya, assistant professor of Economics at Harisingh Gour University in Sagar, explained that the difference in the reactions of the two genders should be seen from the perspective of rampant poverty and lack of education.
“Women have always been confined to their homes in these regions and with rampant poverty, even a little sum in their hand is empowering (for them) as they are able to meet the immediate demands of their family. But it is this very lack of awareness or education that is restricting them to look at the larger situation where the money is incremental and it isn’t essentially empowering them as a proper employment opportunity would,” he said.
“MP has a largely rural set up and in these parts, the society is yet to reach a point when women are seen as equal contributors and as breadwinners. The men feel they should be getting money in their hands. Women getting direct money, as per their mentality, puts them at a disadvantage…despite working at home, a woman’s contribution is never considered,” he added.
For many women who do not have a regular income and depend on their husbands for daily expenses, the money they receive under Ladli Behna Yojana is their “earned money”.
When asked about the resentment among men with regards to scheme, Krishna Kevat in Budhni pointed out, “Men are resenting the scheme as they are not getting any money.”
Meanwhile, women have also filled forms of the schemes that Congress had brought in force. “Who doesn’t want a fixed amount of money every month? I’m happy with the Ladli Behna scheme but have also filled up the form of the Congress which has promised Rs 1,500 and a subsidised cylinder too,” said Sugna Bai.
Even as this gives hope to the Congress for the coming polls, the party is also playing up the fact that all eligible women are not getting benefits under the scheme.
“Paisa mere haath mein hai. Congress ne kahaa hai wo aur zyada, Rs 1,500, denge aur saath mein LPG cylinder. Ab soch kar, dekh samjh kar vote karenge (I got this money. The Congress has promised they will give Rs 1,500 per month and also an LPG cylinder. So I will think before voting),” said Sarita Singh, a resident of Silwani.
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Some hiccups
Women like Ruby Sahu of Silwani assembly constituency said she got left out of the Ladli Behna scheme as she could not fill the forms in time. Satisfied with the overall work of the BJP, when asked if Chouhan should come back to power, she said, “He should continue as the Chief Minister. When the forms for Ladli Behna Yojana are next issued, I will be filling them to avail the benefit under the scheme.”
Not everyone ThePrint spoke to, however, was equally satisfied with the Chouhan government.
Chotiri (identified by her first name only), a resident of the state’s Silwani area, claimed she hadn’t received her vriddha (senior citizen) pension for the past two months.
“I don’t know why I have not been receiving a pension for the past two months. There are roads constructed, but no gutters, no electricity and water is a major problem. There are pipes installed, but no water. There is a common hand pump set up in school which is used by all,” she said.
Bhopal resident Jaya Bai began receiving her Ladli Behna money after raising a complaint on the CM helpline number about four months ago.
She used the three installments to pay off the loan she had taken from the Self Help Group that she is affiliated to, but the money stopped once again in October.
“When I went to check, the people at the bank said that no money had come. Besides the complaint I had raised on the CM helpline number, the people kept on insisting that my issue had been resolved and that I should close my complaint. Dekhiye parivartan toh hona chahiye (Things should change),” she pointed out.
Like Jaya, Bhopal resident Afreen Khan also claimed she had run from pillar to post to avail the benefits of the schemes, but to no avail.
“I did not have a Samagra ID (a document like an Aadhaar card required to avail benefits of government schemes in MP) which is why despite running around, we were not made eligible for the scheme. But my sisters living in Sehore have been getting it and they have been using it to support their children’s education. I feel that no matter which government comes, those who are left behind do not have anyone to turn to. It is not just me, but my neighbours also have not been getting any money despite all the efforts,” she claimed.
Sidhi resident Alpana Singh has been receiving benefits of Ladli Behan Yojana since the past four months, but she said tat with the rising prices, the money was sufficient to only buy supplies for the month.
So will the scheme tilt women voters in favour of the BJP?
“We vote depending on what the elders of our family say. My in-laws in Sidhi are affiliated to the BJP, while my mother’s family that lives in Umariya is in favour of the Congress. It is still some time before the election, we will see which way the wind blows and will vote accordingly,” said Alpana.
“Mama is giving us Rs 1,000 in our account and that is sufficient. We are very satisfied with it,” said Guddi Bai in Budhni.
However, the instalment has not blinded some of the voters who favour an overall development over such sops. Anita Gond, a beneficiary in Sidhi, flags the lack of basic facilities such as water in the village.
“I get money under Ladli Behna Yojana every month but there needs to be some arrangement made for water supply in the village. The pipelines have been laid but there is no water which is a big problem,” she said.
Likewise, Shanti (identified by her first name only), a resident of Tada village in Silwani, is happy with the work done by the BJP government but points at the lack of basic amenities such as toilets in the village. “I’m getting money under the Ladli Behna Yojana and overall, the BJP government is doing good work and should return to power. But there are no toilets in the village.”
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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