Women-Centric Schemes Get Top Priority as Jagdish Devda Presents ₹4.38 Lakh Crore Budget for Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda on Tuesday presented a ₹4.38 lakh crore Budget for the financial year, with a strong focus on women-centric welfare schemes, infrastructure development, agriculture, and social security.

A major highlight of the Budget was the substantial allocation for the Ladli Behna Yojana, the State government’s flagship initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to women. Mr. Devda earmarked ₹23,882 crore for the scheme, under which eligible women receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,250 directly into their bank accounts. The Minister said the scheme has significantly strengthened the financial independence of women and improved household economic stability across the State.

Presenting the Budget in the State Assembly, Mr. Devda emphasized that women’s empowerment remains at the core of the government’s development agenda. He noted that investments in education, health, nutrition, and livelihood support for women would continue to be prioritised.

Apart from the Ladli Behna scheme, allocations were also made for programmes related to girl child welfare, maternal health, skill development, and self-help groups. The government reiterated its commitment to enhancing women’s participation in economic activities and improving access to social security benefits.

The Budget also included provisions for agriculture, irrigation projects, road and urban infrastructure, and industrial development. The Finance Minister stated that the government aims to accelerate economic growth while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Opposition members, however, raised concerns over revenue generation and the sustainability of welfare spending. They questioned whether the State’s finances could support large-scale social assistance programmes in the long term. The government responded by asserting that the Budget is growth-oriented and designed to balance welfare commitments with capital expenditure.

With women-centric schemes receiving the highest allocation, the 2026 Budget signals the State government’s continued focus on social welfare as a key pillar of governance in Madhya Pradesh.