Ahead of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi campaigning is going in full swing, outlining their vision for the state's future. The Mahayuti has emphasized its governance record, comparing its achievements to those of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, claiming to have outperformed the latter in every domain. So let us see whether it is true or not-
Women's Welfare Initiatives
Since its formation in June 2022 under Eknath Shinde's leadership, the Mahayuti government has implemented various schemes to improve women's welfare. Notable initiatives include the 'Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme, which provides ₹1,500 per month to eligible women, and the 'Annapurna Yojana,' offering three free LPG cylinders annually. Other programs were also introduced, such as free higher education for girls and the 'Ladki Laxmi' scheme. The government asserts that no comparable measures for women's welfare were introduced during the Maha Vikas Aghadi's tenure.
Farmer and Youth Empowerment
The Mahayuti government has introduced several farmer-centric initiatives, including an additional ₹500 per month under the 'Kisan Samman Yojana,' alongside crop insurance at ₹1, subsidized agricultural electricity, and waivers on electricity bills, backed by a ₹14,000 crore provision for free electricity.
For the youth, the government launched programs like 'On-the-Job Training,' 'Sarthi,' and 'Barti,' providing education and skill development opportunities. The 'Ladki Bhau' scheme aims to benefit over 10 lakh youths. Job creation efforts include recruiting 75,000 government employees and facilitating over one lakh entrepreneurs through the 'Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation.'
Infrastructure and Health Initiatives
The Mahayuti government has prioritized infrastructure projects such as 'Atal Setu,' 'Mumbai Metro-3,' and the Dharavi redevelopment initiative, which has seen significant progress.
In the health sector, the 'Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana' scheme provides free medical check-ups at numerous centers, while the 'Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana' expanded health insurance coverage from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Plans to establish 10 new medical colleges further underscore the government's focus on healthcare development.
Economic Growth and Job Fairs
The Mahayuti government reported an 8.5% GDP growth rate during its tenure, compared to 1.9% under the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Maharashtra's share of national Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) also increased from 26.83% to 37%. Employment efforts included organizing 1,138 job fairs, providing opportunities to 1.51 lakh youths—far surpassing the Maha Vikas Aghadi's 396 fairs, which benefitted 36,000 youths.
Support During Natural Calamities
The government extended significant aid during natural disasters, allocating ₹16,309 crore for farmer relief, compared to ₹8,701 crore during the Maha Vikas Aghadi's tenure. Initiatives like the 'Shabari Adivasi Gharakula Yojana' resulted in a significant increase in funding and homes for the tribal community. Additionally, support for self-help groups in rural areas nearly doubled to ₹28,811 crore.
Comparative Achievements
The Mahayuti government highlights a 77% increase in MSME units, from an average of 8.10 lakh during the Maha Vikas Aghadi era to 14.41 lakh. The government also increased funding under the 'Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana' from ₹2,718 crore to ₹4,108 crore, focusing heavily on employment generation and socio-economic upliftment.
