Maharashtra Government Approves Separate Budget for One Stop Centres for Women

The newly created budget head will fund the routine management and day-to-day functioning of One Stop Centres (OSCs) operating under the Sambal sub-scheme. These centres provide integrated support services such as psychological counselling, medical assistance, police support, temporary shelter, and legal aid.

Ahead of the Maharashtra Budget 2026, the state on Wednesday approved a separate budget head to cover the daily operational expenses of One Stop Centres (OSCs) established for women in distress under the Centre-sponsored Mission Shakti scheme, reported the PTI. The Maharashtra legislature’s Budget session is scheduled to begin on February 23.

The newly created budget head will fund the routine management and day-to-day functioning of OSCs operating under the Sambal sub-scheme. These centres provide integrated support services such as psychological counselling, medical assistance, police support, temporary shelter, and legal aid. The move aims to ensure uninterrupted funding for the centres’ ongoing operations.

Earlier, an existing budget head was being used primarily for infrastructure-related expenses of OSCs. The government said a distinct accounting head was necessary to ensure that routine operational costs are met smoothly. The decision was announced through a government resolution (GR) issued by the Women and Child Development Department.

The approval falls under the Social Security and Welfare category and will be funded 100 per cent by the Centre. The Commissioner of Women and Child Development, Pune, has been appointed as the controlling authority for expenditure under the scheme. The accounts officer of the commissionerate will act as the drawing and disbursing officer.

In a related development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the state government would consider a proposal to rename the Ladki Bahin welfare scheme after late Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar. The demand was raised on Tuesday by NCP MLC Amol Mitkari, who suggested that the government’s flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides financial assistance to women, should be renamed in Pawar’s memory.

Speaking to reporters in Haridwar, CM Fadnavis said, “There are several demands. We will sit together and decide how to proceed.” Ajit Pawar, a senior Nationalist Congress Party leader, died along with four others in a plane crash at Baramati in Pune district on January 28. Mitkari said Pawar, fondly known as Ajitdada, enjoyed strong support among women across Maharashtra.

“During his yatras, his wrists would be full of rakhis. Renaming the scheme as Ajitdadanchi Ladki Bahin Yojana would be a fitting tribute by the state government,” Mitkari said.