‘Born with Golden Spoon’ Won’t Understand Value of ₹1,500 Stipend: Shinde Hits Back at Oppn

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 4th Sept. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took a sharp dig at the opposition, particularly his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray, during an event in Mumbai’s Chandivali area on Tuesday. Shinde slammed those “born with a golden spoon,” implying that they would not appreciate the value of the ₹1,500 monthly stipend provided to underprivileged women under the Mukhya Mantri Ladki Bahin Yojana.

The Chief Minister defended the scheme, which has faced skepticism from the opposition, who have labeled it as “deceptive” and “false assurance.” Shinde highlighted the overwhelming response from women, with nearly 2 crore applications received and 1.5 crore eligible beneficiaries already receiving the promised stipend.

“The opposition makes fun of the scheme, accusing us of giving bribes. Those born with a golden spoon will not understand the value of ₹1,500. The value will be understood by my ‘ladkya bahini’ (dear sisters),” Shinde said, referencing Thackeray’s criticism of the scheme.

He emphasized that the scheme’s success was evident when the first tranche of funds was credited to beneficiaries’ accounts, countering opposition claims that the money would be reclaimed. “This government gives, it does not take,” Shinde asserted.

The opposition has criticized the scheme for being financially unviable, given its annual cost of ₹46,000 crore, and described the stipend as “paltry.” Shinde urged women beneficiaries to support the government, suggesting that increased support could lead to a doubling of the stipend amount in the future.

Addressing further opposition criticisms, Shinde dismissed rumors that the scheme’s rollout could be halted by legal challenges and reassured that attempts to stop it had failed. He also refuted claims that Mumbai could be separated from Maharashtra, affirming, “No one can break Mumbai from Maharashtra.”