Madhya Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on August 27 announced several new sops for women, including a raise from October in the monthly cash benefit provided under the Chief Minister Ladli Behna Yojana (LBY) to ₹1,250 from ₹1,000.
At an event in State capital Bhopal, Mr. Chouhan termed his latest women-centric announcements as a gift on the occasion of the Raksha Bandhan festival (which will be celebrated on August 30) for the women of the State. He also said that he was transferring as ‘shagun’ (auspicious gift) an additional amount of ₹250 to each of the 1.25 crore beneficiaries of the scheme.
The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has so far transferred three instalments of ₹1,000 each under the LBY since June, and Mr. Chouhan has spoken of gradually increasing the sum to ₹3,000. The Congress’ pre-poll promise includes payment of ₹1,500, and a gas cylinder for ₹500 every month to select group of women if it’s voted to power.
