Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Sunday that he would raise the financial aid given to women in the Ladli Behna scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,250 per month. The CM also announced a 35% reservation for women in government jobs.

“Women will get cooking gas at Rs 450 in the holy month of Sawan. Later, a permanent system will be developed in this regard. I have also transferred Rs 250 into the accounts of 1.25 crore women so that they can celebrate Rakhi well. The rest of the Rs 1,000 (under the Ladli Behna Yojana) will be credited in September. From October, Rs 1250 will be transferred into the accounts of women,” the CM said.

“My sisters and daughters, there are many government posts on which appointments are made by the government. On those posts, mostly men are selected. Now, we are deciding that at least 35% of the appointments on those posts will be of women,” he added.

Assembly elections are likely to be held at the end of the year in the state.