In the backdrop of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, both the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi have presented their manifestos.
Both sides have made several promises, with the Mahayuti focusing on comparing its tenure with that of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in front of the public.
Mahayuti leaders are claiming that they have outperformed the Maha Vikas Aghadi in every aspect. On the other hand, after interacting with several people, it has been claimed that more development work was done during the Mahayuti's tenure compared to the Maha Vikas Aghadi's, with the former being credited for bringing about a development revolution.
Additionally, when comparing the two alliances, many people believe that the Mahayuti has been superior to the Maha Vikas Aghadi in all areas.
Mahayuti Government Accelerates Several SchemesThe Mahayuti government, led by Eknath Shinde, was formed in June 2022. In the past two and a half years, this government has devised and implemented various schemes in the state. Under the 'Mazi Ladki Bahin' scheme, eligible women beneficiaries are being provided with ₹1,500 per month.
Additionally, the government announced free higher education for girls, the 'Ladki Laxmi' scheme, and the 'Annapurana Yojana', which provides three free cylinders annually to women. No such schemes were introduced for women's welfare during the Maha Vikas Aghadi's tenure, as claimed by the public.
Schemes for Farmers and YouthTo empower farmers, the central government decided to provide ₹500 per month under the 'Kisan Samman Yojana.' The Mahayuti government added an additional ₹500 from the state government. Other schemes for farmers, such as crop insurance at ₹1, agricultural electricity bill waivers, and free electricity, were introduced and implemented. A provision of ₹14,000 crore was made for free electricity.
Various schemes, such as 'On-the-Job Training', 'Sarthi', and 'Barti', were implemented to provide educational research and training for the youth. The 'Ladki Bhau' scheme will benefit over 10 lakh young people. The Mahayuti government also decided to provide facilities to youth from other communities through various corporations. A decision was made to increase the pension amount for senior citizens.
Recruitment for 75,000 Government JobsGovernment job recruitment is a matter of great importance for the youth. In the past two years, the Mahayuti government has recruited for 75,000 government posts.
A pension scheme preferred by government employees has been implemented, and the honorarium for Anganwadi workers, agricultural workers, and Gram Rozgar Sevaks has also been increased. The Mahayuti government completed the recruitment for 18,000 police constable positions during its tenure.
Creating One Lakh EntrepreneursWhile working in the employment sector, the Mahayuti government empowered the 'Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporation' for the Maratha community and created more than one lakh entrepreneurs through this initiative. The first Mahayuti government also decided to establish a separate ministry for the differently-abled. Thousands of young people have been provided with employment opportunities through various job fairs.
New Health Sector FacilitiesIn the health sector, the Mahayuti government, under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, launched the 'Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana' scheme, which began offering free medical check-ups at hundreds of health centres. Additionally, under the 'Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana', the insurance cover was increased from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh, making it easier for the underprivileged to get treatment for critical diseases. The Mahayuti government also decided to establish 10 new medical colleges during its tenure.
Dharavi Redevelopment Project Gets MomentumInfrastructure development is crucial for the progress of any state. In this regard, the Mahayuti government has made significant decisions for road construction, highways, railway facilities, and port development. Examples include the 'Atal Setu' and 'Mumbai Metro-3' projects. The government has also accelerated the redevelopment of Dharavi, once known as Asia's largest slum. The tender process has been completed, and the selected company has begun surveying the slums.
9% Increase in Foreign Direct InvestmentThe Mahayuti government has released a report comparing its tenure with that of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, showcasing its progress. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi's tenure, the state's GDP growth rate was 1.9%, while the Mahayuti government achieved a rate of 8.5%. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi's period, Maharashtra received 26.83% of India's total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); however, under the Mahayuti government, this share rose to 37%. While the Maha Vikas Aghadi constructed 6.57 lakh houses for the poor, the Mahayuti government claims to have built 10.52 lakh houses.
Mahayuti's Double Support in Natural CalamitiesThe 'Shabari Adivasi Gharakula Yojana' is aimed at providing homes for the tribal community. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi's tenure, ₹447 crore was approved for 18,119 homes, while the Mahayuti government sanctioned ₹771 crore for 1.25 lakh homes. In response to natural disasters, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government provided ₹8,701 crore in aid to farmers, whereas the Mahayuti government increased this amount to ₹16,309 crore. The Mahayuti government also provided ₹28,811 crore to self-help groups in rural areas, nearly double the amount provided by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Double the Job Fairs Compared to Maha Vikas AghadiUnder the 'Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Swadhar Yojana', the Maha Vikas Aghadi approved ₹2,718 crore, which the Mahayuti government increased to ₹4,108 crore. The number of MSME units, which are key to employment generation, increased by 77% under the Mahayuti government, from an average of 8.10 lakh during the Maha Vikas Aghadi's tenure to 14.41 lakh. The Mahayuti government has focused heavily on generating employment through job fairs. While the Maha Vikas Aghadi organised 396 job fairs and provided employment to 36,000 youth, the Mahayuti government conducted 1,138 job fairs and provided employment to 151,000 youth, according to their report card.