Women embrace scheme amid document delay fears

Pune: Rs 1,500 per month may not seem like a big amount for urban people, but for poor women in rural areas, it can mean the difference between going to bed on an empty stomach and buying enough food for the family, said Asha Patond (43).
She is the first woman in the state to submit her form under the state government’s recently announced flagship programme — Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme — here on Monday.
Snehlata Yanbhar (33), another anganwadi sevika, also submitted her form. Although the process officially began on Monday, officials said that forms would be routed via Narishakti Dooth app, with training for Anganwadi sevikas scheduled for Monday and online uploads commencing on Tuesday.
“Talathi offices in villages were swamped with women seeking necessary income certificates for eligibility. Despite the July 15 deadline for form submission, we anticipate the need for an extension due to the time required to obtain mandatory certificates, such as domicile and income certificates. At least 15 days are required to get the income certificate. I had everything ready because my children have grown up and they needed it for admission purposes,” said Patond, an anganwadi sevika, who attended the scheme’s inauguration programme at the divisional commissioner’s office attended by rural development and panchayati raj minister Girish Mahajan.
Snehlata Yanbhar said that she has been getting incessant calls from women about the scheme. “This is a great scheme because the money will come directly to their account and not a joint account, where generally the husband is the primary account holder. But the time given is very less and it may not be possible for women to get so many documents in a short time unless the government makes special provisions to speed up the process,” said Yanbhar, also an anganwadi sevika.
Pune district women and child development officer Jamsingh Girase said they have suggested formation of taluka-wise committees under the tehsildar to expedite the certification process for aspiring beneficiaries.
“Women can fill the details on Narishakti Dooth app from Tuesday onwards or visit the nearest Anganwadi kendras, women and child development office, gram panchayat, corporation ward office, e-seva kendras etc to fill in the forms,” said Girase.