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NCP MP Supriya Sule alleged that more than 1.25 crore women had been removed from the welfare scheme and questioned the government’s verification process.
Maharashtra Audit Finds 10 Lakh Ineligible Women in Ladki Bahin Scheme, Recovery Drive Begins. (Photo Credits: X)
A major verification exercise carried out by the Maharashtra government under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana has identified lakhs of beneficiaries who did not meet the eligibility criteria, including around 10 lakh women whose family income exceeded the prescribed limit.
The development came on a day when Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule alleged that more than 1.25 crore women had been removed from the welfare scheme and questioned the government’s verification process and use of public funds.
The state government, however, said the exclusions were the result of a detailed scrutiny exercise aimed at ensuring that benefits reached only eligible recipients.
Beneficiary count falls after verification
According to government officials, the number of beneficiaries under the scheme has come down from around 2.4 crore to nearly 1.6 crore following Electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification and cross-checking with multiple government databases.
Officials said the largest category of exclusions involved around 10 lakh women who were found ineligible after their records were matched with Income Tax Department data.
Under the scheme, women between the ages of 21 and 65 years from families earning less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually are entitled to receive monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500.
The verification process identified several categories of ineligible beneficiaries.
Around two lakh women were removed after crossing the upper age limit of 65 years, while 74,000 beneficiaries were found to be below the minimum eligible age of 21.
Another 4.40 lakh beneficiaries were excluded after being identified as family members of government employees, making them ineligible under the scheme rules.
Verification with Regional Transport Office records also led to the removal of around 1.80 lakh women who had vehicles registered in their names.
Officials said the scrutiny exercise also uncovered around 14,000 government employees who had received benefits despite being ineligible.
Recovery proceedings have been initiated against them.
An equal number of male beneficiaries were also found to have received assistance under the women-only welfare programme. Authorities have begun recovery action in those cases as well.
The exercise further revealed instances of beneficiaries receiving financial assistance under multiple welfare schemes, including the Ladki Bahin Yojana, Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana and Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana.
Officials said eligible beneficiaries would continue receiving assistance under one scheme, but duplication of benefits would be discontinued.
KYC discrepancies detected
The government also identified discrepancies in the Know Your Customer details of nearly 25 lakh beneficiaries.
According to officials, these records were corrected and fresh verification may be carried out wherever required.
The scrutiny exercise has intensified political debate over the Ladki Bahin Yojana, one of the Mahayuti government’s flagship welfare programmes.
Political row intensifies
While the Opposition has argued that the reduction in beneficiaries reflects financial pressures on the state government, officials have maintained that the verification exercise was necessary to prevent misuse of public funds and remove ineligible recipients.
Supriya Sule questioned the manner in which beneficiaries were removed and sought greater transparency regarding the scheme.
This is not the first time irregularities have surfaced. Information obtained by The Indian Express through the Right to Information Act last year showed that at least 12,431 men and at least 12,915 government employees had received benefits under the scheme. “The people of Maharashtra deserve complete transparency,” Sule said.
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen…Read More
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