Shiv Bhojan Thali and Aanandacha Shidha schemes under threat; Government faces backlash over Potential shutdown
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a move that has raised concerns among the poor and needy across Maharashtra, the state government is considering scrapping two vital welfare schemes—the Shiv Bhojan Thali and Aanandacha Shidha. These initiatives, which have provided affordable meals and essential food kits to millions of underprivileged citizens, may soon be shut down due to the state’s escalating fiscal crisis. The decision is expected to be made after the budget session of the state legislature, which is scheduled for early March.
Introduced during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, both schemes have served as lifelines for the economically disadvantaged, but the current administration is now forced to reconsider their continuation in light of rising financial pressures. Maharashtra’s fiscal deficit is projected to exceed Rs 2 lakh crore this year, roughly 3% of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). With the state’s financial situation worsening, the government is contemplating strict austerity measures, and the future of these popular welfare schemes is now uncertain.
Launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme was intended to provide a square meal to the poor at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 10 per plate. The meal consists of two chapatis, a bowl of vegetables, dal, and rice. Although the cost of each plate is Rs 50 in urban areas and Rs 35 in rural areas, the state government covers the gap with subsidies, making it affordable for the most vulnerable sections of society.
Currently, 1,887 Shiv Bhojan centres operate across the state, serving an average of 1.8 lakh plates per day. As of March 2023, over 29.62 crore plates had been distributed under the scheme, helping to alleviate food insecurity among daily wage workers, labourers, and migrant workers. The scheme is run at an annual cost of approximately Rs 267 crore, a sum that the state government is now questioning due to its growing fiscal deficit.
Former Food and Civil Supplies Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him not to shut down the Shiv Bhojan scheme. In his letter, Bhujbal emphasised the importance of the scheme for the poor, stating, “The expenditure of Rs 267 crore is negligible compared to the immense social benefits the scheme provides. It ensures a confirmed meal for the poor and needy, and its closure would be a setback to the state’s image.” Bhujbal further pointed out that the scheme not only addresses hunger but also provides employment to around 1 lakh people working at Shiv Bhojan centres.
Speaking to reporters, Bhujbal said, “If the government shuts down the Shiv Bhojan Thali centres, it will directly impact the livelihoods of thousands of people. We cannot ignore the essential role this scheme plays in feeding millions of poor people daily.”
Alongside the Shiv Bhojan Thali, the Maharashtra government is also considering discontinuing the Aanandacha Shidha scheme, which provides subsidised food kits to families with saffron ration cards. The scheme was first introduced during Diwali 2022 and offered food items such as rava (suji), chana dal, sugar, and soybean oil at a nominal cost of Rs 100 per kit. The kits were distributed during various festivals, including Gudi Padwa, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, Ganesh festival, and Diwali. In 2024, the scheme also provided kits during the consecration ceremony of the Sri Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The total cost of the Aanandacha Shidha scheme has been reported at Rs 500 crore annually, benefiting approximately 1.6 crore families. However, the state’s financial strain has prompted the government to reconsider the future of this scheme, which has played a crucial role in helping families during times of economic difficulty.
Maharashtra’s growing fiscal deficit, compounded by a massive state debt of Rs 7.8 lakh crore, has placed immense pressure on the state’s budget. A significant portion of this debt is attributed to the Ladli Behan Yojana, a scheme introduced by the current government that provides Rs 1,500 per month to women below the poverty line. The state has committed to spending around Rs 50,000 crore annually on this scheme, which has further strained the state’s finances.
Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has acknowledged the need for stringent financial discipline, stating, “As finance minister, I will have to take strict decisions to ensure financial discipline is maintained. Last year was an election year, and some concessions were given, but now we need to prioritise fiscal responsibility for the next five years.”
Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sachin Ahir, have strongly opposed the potential closure of the welfare schemes. Wadettiwar, speaking to the media in Nagpur, described the government’s move as unconscionable and unjust to the poor. “The Shiv Bhojan Thali scheme was launched by the MVA government to ensure that the needy receive nutritious meals for just Rs 10. Now, under the guise of funding the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the state is contemplating its closure. This is not acceptable,” Wadettiwar said.
Wadettiwar also raised concerns about the plight of farmers, especially those struggling to sell their soyabean crops at reasonable prices. “The state has failed to pay the dues owed to farmers, and the soyabean procurement deadline is fast approaching. We demand that the state government ensure the purchase of all soyabean stock from farmers, or we will be forced to take action,” Wadettiwar warned.
In addition to the potential closure of the Shiv Bhojan Thali and Aanandacha Shidha schemes, the Maharashtra government is also grappling with difficulties in paying salaries to state employees. Sources within the government have confirmed that several departments are facing delays in releasing funds, including those responsible for welfare schemes such as MNREGA and the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sachin Ahir criticised the government’s handling of its finances, saying, “The state has accumulated significant debt, and now there is a shortage of funds for essential schemes and infrastructure projects. The situation will only worsen if the government continues to prioritise short-term political schemes over the long-term welfare of the people.”
With Maharashtra facing a mounting debt crisis and the government struggling to balance its budget, the fate of the Shiv Bhojan Thali and Aanandacha Shidha schemes remains uncertain. Opposition leaders continue to urge the government to maintain these essential welfare initiatives, highlighting the long-term social benefits they provide to the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
The final decision on these schemes is expected to be made after the state budget session in March, but with financial constraints tightening, it remains to be seen whether the Maharashtra government will continue supporting these welfare programmes or opt for austerity measures that could have a lasting impact on the state’s poor. As the debate intensifies, all eyes will be on the state legislature’s decision, with millions of vulnerable citizens hoping that the government will prioritise their welfare over fiscal concerns.
