The State Government has taken a significant decision aimed at empowering the economically weaker and socially backward sections of society. During a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, approval was granted to increase the monthly financial assistance provided to differently-abled beneficiaries under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Grant Scheme and the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme. Additionally, approval was given to extend the benefits of the Central Government’s Pre-Secondary Scholarship Scheme to students belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the 9th and 10th grades. These decisions will ensure a regular financial support towards the upliftment of the poor and vulnerable people of the society. Furthermore, deserving students will gain greater opportunities in the field of education. This decision underscores the Devendra Fadnavis government’s commitment to social justice and inclusive development.
This crucial decision on improving the Maharashtra government’s welfare schemes for the vulnerable and deprived sections of society was taken during the State Cabinet meeting held on September 3, 2025, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. To promote the empowerment and equal justice for the poor and vulnerable classes of the society, the government has decided to increase the financial assistance provided to differently-abled beneficiaries, who currently benefit from the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana and the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Yojana, by ₹1,000. Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries currently receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,500. With the hike of ₹1,000, these beneficiaries will now receive a monthly sum of ₹2,500. This decision is set to come into effect from October 2025. To facilitate this initiative, the government has also approved a financial allocation of ₹570 crore.
Changes to Schemes During Devendra Fadnavis’s Tenure
Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Grant Scheme: Number of beneficiaries increased to 450,700 Shravanbal Pension Scheme: Number of beneficiaries including disables increased to 24,003
Financial Assistance Provided Before 2014: Rs 600
Financial Assistance Provided in 2019: Rs 1,000 (Increase by Rs 400)
Financial Assistance Provided in 2023: Rs 1,500 (Further Increase of Rs 500)
Financial Assistance Provided in 2005: Rs 2,500 (Another Increase by Rs 1000)
Financial Assistance for Persons with Disabilities and the Economically Vulnerable
During his first tenure as Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis decided to increase the financial assistance provided under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Grant Scheme and the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme. Prior to this, beneficiaries under these schemes received a monthly stipend of Rs 600. In the State Cabinet meeting held in August 2019, Devendra Fadnavis decided to increase this financial assistance by Rs 400, raising the total amount to Rs 1,000. Subsequently, during his budget presentation for 2023-24 as Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, announced that the financial assistance under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Grant Scheme and the Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme would be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Accordingly, this decision was approved during the State Cabinet meeting held on June 28, 2023, and the official government order regarding the same was issued on July 5, 2023. Now, having returned to power once again, Devendra Fadnavis has further increased the financial assistance provided under this scheme by Rs 1,000, bringing the total amount to Rs 2,500. Increasing the monthly assistance for the various vulnerable categories of people more than 4 times in the last 10 years reflects his concerns and attention on their well beings.
Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana
The Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana is a financial assistance scheme launched by the Government of Maharashtra. The primary objective of this scheme is to provide financial aid to the poor and needy. Through this initiative the elderly persons with disabilities, destitute, orphans, widows, divorcees, and men and women suffering from severe illnesses living in the state, aged between 18 and 65 years receive direct financial assistance via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The government has decided to increase this amount from Rs 1500 to Rs 2500. Currently, the scheme has 450,700 beneficiaries.
Another similar government scheme, the Shravanbal Yojana, currently provides monthly financial assistance to more than 24000 poor and elderly persons across the state. Recognizing the dire needs of the beneficiaries of both these schemes, the Devendra Fadnavis administration decided to increase the amount of monthly assistance.
Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme
The Shravanbal Seva State Pension Scheme is a Maharashtra Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance to poor and elderly citizens. Under this scheme, the government used to provide a monthly pension of ₹1,500 to destitutes and impoverished citizens of the state, aged 65 years and above. The government has now increased this amount by ₹1,000, raising it to ₹2,500. Currently, the scheme has over 24,000 beneficiaries. Men and women aged 65 years and above, who are residents of Maharashtra and have an annual income of less than ₹21,000 are eligible to avail of the benefits of this scheme.
Maharashtra Tribal Scholarship Schemes
During this very meeting of the State Cabinet, another significant decision was taken, which referred to the education of students belonging to Scheduled Tribes. Until now, under the State Government’s ‘Golden Jubilee Tribal Pre-Secondary Scholarship Scheme,‘ scholarships were being disbursed to students in Classes 1 through 10 across three phases. Under this new scheme, every student in Classes 1 to 4, Classes 5 to 7, and Classes 8 to 10 will receive scholarships of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 1,500, and Rs. 2,000, respectively. In addition, a decision has been taken to implement the Central Government’s Pre-Secondary Scholarship Scheme for students in Classes 9 and 10. Eligible students will receive a scholarship of Rs. 3,000 under this Central scheme. Since students in these specific classes stand to receive a higher financial benefit under the Central Government’s Pre-Secondary Scholarship Scheme, the State Government has decided to adopt and implement the Central scheme. Consequently, students belonging to Scheduled Tribes will no longer have to face financial hardships during their studies. In particular, students studying in Zilla Parishad schools will directly benefit from this decision; their scholarship amount will see an increase of Rs. 1,000. The remaining funds under the Central scheme will be disbursed to students residing in government hostels through the Hostel Scheme. This scheme will not be applicable to students studying in aided and government residential Ashram schools, Eklavya schools, or renowned private schools.
Central Government Pre-Secondary Scholarship Scheme
The Central Government is implementing a Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Tribe students in Classes 9 and 10. This scheme will benefit students whose parents’ annual income is less than Rs. 2 lakh. The scholarship will be for a duration of 10 months. Students attending regular schools will receive a monthly stipend of ₹225, along with ₹525 for books and other supplies, amounting to a total scholarship of ₹3,000. Conversely, students residing in hostels are awarded a monthly stipend of ₹525, plus ₹1,000 for books and other items, totaling a scholarship of ₹6,250.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s government has been making continuous efforts to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach every section of society. The ‘Mahayuti’ government 2.0 does not merely make announcements; it places strong emphasis on the effective implementation of every declared scheme. This is the hallmark of the Devendra Fadnavis administration. The holistic development of citizens from every walk of life lies at the core of this government’s policy. This demonstrates that the government operates with the guiding principle that no section of society should be left behind. These initiatives, while will empower persons with disabilities and the destitute to live with dignity, will pave a smoother and more inspiring path to education for students belonging to Scheduled Tribes.
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