We aim to make 1 crore women in state ‘lakhpati didis’: Fadnavis

Kolhapur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday responded to barbs by the Thackeray cousins over the value of Rs 1,500 given to women under the Ladki Bahin scheme, saying it got many women respect for the first time, as they now have their own earnings. He said the Ladki Bahin scheme is a beginning, and the aim is to make one crore "lakhpati didis" under Centre's scheme for women entrepreneurs.The Centre has launched a scheme to help women entrepreneurs set up businesses by utilising various govt schemes and earn Rs 1 lakh per year. "The status of women has changed due to this (Ladki Bahin) scheme. It is a start. PM Narenda Modi has launched an initiative to make women lakhpati didis. In the past year, over 50 lakh women in our state have become lakhpati didis. Also, from 2029, women's reservation will be introduced in Parliament. Their (women's) time has come, and no one can stop women's empowerment," Fadnavis said during an interaction in Kolhapur on Monday.Speaking at a rally in Nashik, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had said, "What can you do with Rs 1,500 when the inflation is so high? That money gets spent in 15 days. A single cylinder costs Rs 1,000." Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray had said that people thought the scheme was "influencing women to vote in BJP's favour."On Monday, Fadnavis attended a Misal Katta event and interacted with YouTuber Krishnaraj Mahadik, the son of Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik, senior journalist Charudatta Joshi and Marathi actor Swapnil Rajshekhar regarding his vision for Kolhapur's development.Higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, medical education minister Hasan Mushrif, MP Dhananjay Mahadik, state planning commission chief MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar, MLAs Amal Mahadik and Rahul Awade, along with office-bearers of Mahayuti parties and invited guests were present on the occasion.The chief minister highlighted how the focus shifted to development of cities after 2014. "Nearly 65% of the GDP is through the cities, and hence, Indian govt introduced schemes like Smart City, Amrut City and funds were provided for development of the cities," he said.He recalled his time as a corporator and mayor of Nagpur. "Corporators are the first respondents to every issue. If any city has to develop, the corporator, mayor and the standing committee should be active. Only those who will work as ‘sevak' should get elected," Fadnavis said.Asked about the long-pending issue of the merger of surrounding villages into the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, Fadnavis said if public representatives and citizens are ready, he would "sign the merger proposal within 15 minutes." He said he is ready to meet the anti-merger action committee members and clear their doubts after the election.Fadnavis assured investment and airport development for Kolhapur. Addressing local concern about the Panchaganga river pollution, he admitted that at present, nearly 75% sewage and 25% industrial waste is getting mixed into the river. "We will strive for 100% treatment of the sewage coming from cities and adjacent villages," he said.He outlined his vision to divert excess and flood water from western Maharashtra to the parched region of Marathwada. "Out of the 120 TMC water that flows into Karnataka, we plan to divert at least 30-35 TMC towards Ujani and further to Marathwada through diversion canals. This will help flood control in Kolhapur, Sangli region and bring water to drought-prone areas from Marathwada," Fadnavis added.