777pub How Jharkhand's Maaiya Samman Yojana Transformed Politics

Kalpana Soren with women voters in Jharkhand | Photo: PTI Kalpana Soren with women voters in Jharkhand | Photo: PTI

A thousand rupees that Nilofer Perween gets every month from the government under the Maaiya Samman Yojana is exhausted in paying her younger son’s tuition fees. “When I start getting Rs 2,500 from December, the worry about my other son’s fees will end. I will also have some money left. At a time when inflation is skyrocketing, if someone is giving Rs 2,500 every month, then which woman would not vote for Hemant Soren?” she says with a sense of relief and gratitude.

The story of the 45-year-old from Ranchi is one of many in Jharkhand, where women have found a crucial support system in the welfare scheme aimed at alleviating the financial burden on economically weaker women.

Thirty-year-old Nidhi is from Simdega Bano. She and her husband had to migrate to Ranchi to support the earn more and raise their three children. Her husband drives a car, while Nidhi works as a maid. She says that she has received Rs 3,000 (for three months) under the Maiya Samman Yojana in her account. However, Nidhi is now waiting for Rs 2,500. If she receives the revised amount every month, it will help her solve many of her problems. For now, she plans to use this money to pay her children’s tuition fees and cover the cost of the household expenses.

Nilofer has been receiving the scheme’s monthly support since May, and she is now looking forward to the promised hike in the scheme in December. Her husband works as a daily wage labourer in a school. Managing the household expenses and educating their children has been a constant struggle for the family in their meagre income. The additional Rs 2,500 every month will be a big help for them.

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Salima, who works as a maid in Ranchi, shares a similar sentiment. She and her three sisters are beneficiaries of the Maaiya Samman Yojana. They all expect to receive together Rs 10,000 every month. “All of us voted for Hemant Soren’s government because now we will get Rs 2500 every month. This will help us resolve the financial struggles in our homes,” she says.

Like Nilofer and Salima, many women in Jharkhand have carefully planned how the monthly financial assistance will ease their burdens —whether it is paying for tuition, buying groceries or taking care of other household expenses. The scheme, which was introduced by the state government to support economically vulnerable women, initially offered Rs 1,000 per month. However, following the announcement of a Rs 2100 monthly aid under the BJP’s Gogo Yojana, Hemant Soren’s government raised the amount to Rs 2500 per month starting in December.

This decision played a pivotal role in the INDIA alliance’s massive victory in the recent Jharkhand Assembly elections. Many political analysts believe that the overwhelming support from women voters, along with other key factors, led to the alliance’s triumph.

According to the Election Commission, women voters outnumbered men by 5.5 lakh votes. It marked a 1.21 per cent increase in voter turnout compared to the 2019 elections.

Political experts agree that the Maaiya Samman Yojana has had a major influence on women’s participation in the elections. Sudhir Pal, the coordinator of Jharkhand’s ADR, says, “It is generally believed that an increase in voter turnout signals anti-incumbency. But in Jharkhand, we did not see any anti-incumbency. This shows that the Maaiya Samman Yojana has really motivated women. And that is why they came out to vote.”

While Pal acknowledges that the Maaiya Samman Yojana alone cannot be credited for the election results, he believes its role in boosting voter participation was crucial.

The success of the scheme was also complemented by other welfare initiatives during Hemant Soren’s tenure, such as the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana and the Phulo Jhano Ashirwad Abhiyan. While these programs had some impact, it was the Maaiya Samman Yojana, introduced just before the elections, that had the most significant effect on voter behaviour.

The support of tribal and Muslim communities also played a key role in the INDIA alliance’s victory. Hemant Soren’s efforts to pass the Sarna Dharma Code Bill and the 1932 Khatiyan Bill gained significant traction among the tribal population. In addition, the Muslim community, which had been wary of the BJP’s rhetoric around the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), united in favour of the INDIA alliance. This consolidation of votes helped the alliance win seats in areas where the BJP had previously been dominant.

The win in the Santhal Pargana region, including the historic victories in Pakur and Rajmahal, further highlights the importance of community alignment. In Pakur, Nishat Alam, wife of jailed former minister Alamgir Alam, secured an impressive victory by defeating the NDA candidate with a record margin. Similarly, Mohammad Tajuddin’s victory in Rajmahal marked the first time a Muslim candidate won the seat in Jharkhand.

Tanveer Ahmad, a social worker, believes the unity among Muslim organisations played a crucial role in securing the alliance’s success. “Even Asaduddin Owaisi’s party (the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) decided not to campaign in certain constituencies. It allowed us to consolidate Muslim votes in favour of the INDIA alliance,” he says.

Meanwhile, the farmers’ debt relief measures, including the waiver of over Rs 400 crore in loans for 1.76 lakh farmers, also added to the support base for the government. B.N. Singh, president of the All India Kisan Sabha in Jharkhand, notes that the loan and electricity bill waivers provided significant relief to farmers. It, according to him, further solidified their support for Hemant Soren.

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At last, the impact of the OBC reservation bill and the influence of communities like the Mahato and Kurmi in rural areas helped tip the scales in favour of the INDIA alliance. Experts argue that the BJP’s failure to connect with the youth in these communities allowed Hemant Soren to gain crucial votes from them. It contributed to the alliance’s broader victory.

The Maaiya Samman Yojana777pub, experts argue, was not just a financial aid program; it was a symbol of Hemant Soren’s commitment to women’s welfare that helped galvanise support among women voters and significantly influenced the outcome of the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections. The scheme’s impact, combined with targeted welfare measures for other key communities, was instrumental in reshaping the political landscape of the state.