Social engineering in budget: From Pandharpur devotees to minorities, budget woos communities with populist schemes

“The government has decided to provide a fund of Rs 20,000 per Dindi from this year in gratitude to the lakhs of Varkaris who carry the flag of our tradition on their shoulders. A fund of Rs 36.71 crore has been made available for Nirmal Vaari,” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said in his budget speech.

The government has decided to send a proposal to Unesco for the World Heritage nomination of Pandharpur wari, which is recognized worldwide as the identity of Maharashtra, he said.

The government also announced several populist measures to woo different communities including the minorities. It has decided to increase the guarantee loan under the Maulana Azad Minority Economic Development Corporation from Rs 30 crore to Rs 500 crore.

Pawar said that a corporation would be formed for the Bari community which would be called as Sant Shree Ruplal Maharaj Economic Development Corporation for the economic, social and educational development of the Bari community which produces paan, pan pimpri and muesli.

The government has also decided to celebrate Shivarajyabhishek ceremony at Raigad fort every year.

It has also made an allocation of Rs 100 crore for financial assistance under the self-employment schemes through the Shabari Tribal Finance and Development Corporation and announced a scholarship scheme for the foreign education of minority community students from the year 2024-25.

The state also announced a policy for the Third Gender under which the ‘Third Gender’ option has been made available in the recruitment process by the government and public authorities, which will make it easier for the third gender community to take benefits of government schemes.

A plot with the size of 4,000 square metres has also been made available for Dhangar community at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, for educational and social activities for the Dhangar community members. It also decided to establish Maharashtra Domestic Workers Welfare Corporation under which various welfare schemes for registered domestic workers will be implemented.

Pawar also announced that a development plan to the tune of Rs 77 crore will be prepared for the memorial of spiritual guru and social reformer Baba Jumdevji at Pavadauna in Nagpur along with the memorials of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Sangli and a memorial of Sant Shri Ruplal Maharaj in Amravati.