The Jharkhand Cabinet Monday approved an increase in the assistance given to women under the Maiyan Samman Yojna from Rs 1,000 per month to Rs 2,500.

The hike is to come in effect from December. Jharkhand will likely go to polls in November.

The cash transfer was started in August, benefitting more than 50 lakh underprivileged women aged between 18 and 50. “This will be provided from December 2024 to 50 lakh beneficiaries of the scheme. The scheme will cause an additional burden of Rs 9,000 crore,” Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel said.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he does not believe in making announcements but in implementing schemes. “The Opposition will not be able to hatch a plot this time,” he said.

In response to this scheme, the BJP in Jharkhand had announced Rs 2,100 per month under its proposed ‘Gogo Didi Yojna’. The BJP also started distributing forms and collecting the details of the women, which drew criticism from the ruling coalition, citing violation of ECI’s advisory.

CM Soren had launched the ambitious scheme on August 18. On October 8,  Rs 497 crore was transferred into the bank accounts of around 50 lakh women as part of a third instalment.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to the formation of a committee to conduct economic and social surveys of the tea tribes of Jharkhand residing in Assam, classified as OBCs, to “ensure their cultural, social, and economic welfare”.