The state cabinet on Tuesday discussed the issue and the decision is likely to be taken after the budget session of the state legislature, which is set to be held in the first week of March.
Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar along with Cabinet Minister for Ministry of Education and Ministry of Marathi Deepak Kesarkar arrives to present the State Budget in the Assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan, in Mumbai. (PTI)
At a time when the Maharashtra government is reeling under financial strain, it is mulling over closing down the Shiv Bhojan thali and Aanandacha Shidha schemes on which it spent an aggregate of around Rs 1,300 crore in the current financial year.
The state cabinet on Tuesday discussed the issue and the decision is likely to be taken after the budget session of the state legislature, which is set to be held in the first week of March. The rethink on continuation of the scheme comes following the state’s efforts to cut down expenditure. The state fiscal deficit is set to cross Rs 2 lakh crore — around 3 per cent of state GSDP this year.
Former Food and Civil Supplies Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to not close down the Shiv Bhojan scheme. The scheme was launched during the tenure of Bhujbal when Uddhav Thackeray was the chief minister.
Under the Shiv Bhojan scheme, beneficiaries are provided with a square meal, which contains two chapatis, one bowl vegetable, one bowl dal and one bowl rice to the poor and needy at a subsidised rate of Rs 10. However, the cost of a Shiv Bhojan plate for urban areas is Rs 50 and for rural areas it is Rs 35, and the gap is filled by the government subsidy.
As of Wednesday, the total number of plates distributed across the state are 1,80,644 while the apporved limit is 1,99,995. There are 1,887 active eateries while 2,251 is the total number of approved eateries. The state government spends around Rs 267 crore annually on this scheme.
Maharashtra’ Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde was unavailable for comment as he underwent an eye surgery on Wednesday and has been advised rest. A source in his department said, “The discussion did take place during the cabinet meeting. But no action will be taken until the budget session.”
With the state government’s fiscal deficit threatening to cross Rs 2 lakh crore mark as a result of outgo on account of the CM Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme whereby the state pays Rs 1,500 per month to women below poverty line, the state government is planning to implement severe cost-cutting measures.
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Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has already said that strict decisions will have to be taken. “As finance minister, I will have to take strict decisions as financial discipline needs to be followed. Last year was of elections and therefore some concessions were given. But now for next five years, financial discipline has to be followed,” Pawar had said.
In his letter to Fadnavis on Wednesday, Bhujbal said, “The scheme is of utmost importance to the poor and needy. It ensures confirmed meal to them. The expenditure of Rs 267 crore is negligible compared to the benefits of the scheme.”
Aanandacha Shidha scheme was first introduced in 2022 during Diwali, providing four food items at a concessional rate of Rs 100 to families with saffron ration cards. Similar kits were distributed in 2023 for Gudi Padwa and Dr B R Ambedkar’s birth anniversary and later during Ganesh festival and Diwali. In 2024, kits were also distributed during the consecration ceremony of the Sri Ram Temple in Ayodhya and during Ganesh festival. The kit included one kilogram each of rava (suji), chana dal and sugar, along with one litre of soybean oil. Each time, the cost of the scheme was Rs 500 crore and the beneficiaries were around 1.6 crore, on an average.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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