India, Oct. 7 -- The Maharashtra government on Monday made it clear that Anandacha Shidha, the subsidised festival kits scheme, would not be implemented this year. The decision was taken on account of financial constraints, revealed state food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

Under the scheme, which was launched on October 4, 2022 by then chief minister Eknath Shinde, the food and civil supplies department would provide a ration kit to 16.1 million families. The kit, costing Rs.100, had one kg each of sooji, chana dal and sugar and one litre of edible oil and set the exchequer back by Rs.350 to Rs.450 crore per festival. It was distributed on eight occasions till July last year.

"We had sent a proposal to the finance departm...