Monthly aid of Rs 1,500 for woman domestic workers: Sena UBT-MNS BMC poll promise

Announcing the Rs 1,500 monthly payment for women engaged in domestic work, Aaditya Thackeray said, “This is about the self-respect of Mumbai’s working women. We are not starting schemes only for elections. Once we are in power, we will implement this.”

He added that women from the Koli community would also be supported through ‘Ma Saheb Kitchen’, where meals would be provided at Rs 10.

The Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance also promised major relief on property tax. Homes up to 700 square feet would be exempted from the levy, compared to the current exemption for houses up to 500 square feet. “We want to reduce the financial burden on ordinary Mumbaikars,”Thackeray said.

Employment and youth welfare was also a key part of the presentation and as a part of which the alliance announced a self-employment assistance scheme under which young men and women would be given financial help ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh to start small businesses. Mini sports complexes in every municipal ward were also promised.

“Every young person in Mumbai wants work. We have to support them to stand on their own feet,” Aaditya Thackeray said.

On education, the alliance said junior colleges would be started in municipal schools so students can continue their studies after Class X. Schools under different boards would be opened by the civic body, with Marathi made compulsory. “Marathi will have its rightful place in Mumbai’s education system,” Thackeray said.

The alliance promised free or low-cost parking at BMC-owned parking facilities and said redeveloped buildings would follow a one-flat-one-parking norm.

BEST bus fares would be reduced and simplified into flat slabs such as Ra 5–10 and Rs 15–20 to make public transport affordable.

The leaders also stressed pedestrian facilities, promising better footpaths and protection of open spaces. “Footpaths are not optional. Citizens must get safe space to walk,” Aaditya Thackeray said.

A climate action plan aimed at improving air quality and reducing pollution was also part of the agenda. “Mumbai has to breathe freely. We cannot ignore the environment anymore,” he said.

Among other promises announced were 100 units of free electricity, efforts to keep water charges stable, improved power supply in eastern and western suburbs through BEST, crèches in every Assembly constituency, international-standard public toilets, and a new cancer hospital in Mumbai with a focus on early detection.

Speaking at the workshop, Amit Thackeray said, “There is too much arrogance in power today. This election is about breaking that arrogance and bringing the focus back on Mumbai and its people.”

Aaditya Thackeray also spoke about Mumbai’s status as the country’s financial capital and said the alliance would push for control over around 1,800 acres of land held by the Mumbai Port Trust.

A party functionary said the promises made by Amit And Aaditya were concentrated on the BMC and was focused on briefing the candidates workers to use it for the campaigning.

The full fledged manifesto of Sena UBT and MNS would be released by MNS Chief Raj Thackeray and Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday at a joint press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan.