In a significant move to ensure the integrity of its flagship welfare scheme, the Maharashtra government has identified approximately 26 lakh beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana who appear to be ineligible for the benefit. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare announced on Monday that the data of these beneficiaries has been sent for physical verification, vowing "appropriate action" upon completion of the scrutiny.
The scheme, launched in July 2023, provides a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to eligible women between the ages of 21 and 65 from economically weaker sections, with an annual family income of less than ₹2.5 lakh. A key criterion is that the beneficiary should not be availing benefits from any other state government scheme.
Statewide Discrepancies Uncovered
According to Minister Tatkare, the state's Information and Technology Department conducted a preliminary data analysis that revealed the widespread discrepancy. The 26 lakh ineligible beneficiaries are spread across all districts of the state.
"The Women and Child Development Department has provided the preliminary information of these beneficiaries to the concerned district machinery for scrutiny (physical verification)," Tatkare stated in a post on social media platform X.
She emphasized that a detailed, ground-level verification is now underway to cross-check the eligibility of these individuals against the scheme's official criteria. This process will definitively determine which beneficiaries should rightfully receive the aid.
Reasons for Ineligibility and Government's Next Steps
Last month, the minister had shed light on the nature of these irregularities. She revealed that the ineligible beneficiaries were primarily those who were already availing benefits from multiple government schemes, violating the scheme's conditions. Furthermore, some families had more than two registered beneficiaries, and in a surprising twist, even some men had applied for the women-centric scheme.
Upon completion of the physical verification, the government will initiate action against those confirmed to be ineligible. Minister Tatkare stated this action would be taken in accordance with the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
Genuine Cases to be Protected
While cracking down on fraudulent claims, the minister also assured that genuine beneficiaries would be protected. She clarified that the benefits for all eligible women would continue without any interruption.
The government has also adopted a cautious approach to avoid penalizing deserving candidates who might have been flagged due to technicalities. Tatkare mentioned that officials would check if women who did not have a bank account in their name had used a male family member's account for registration.
"It will be checked if any woman has given the account number of a male member of her family... If any genuine case is found, the fund transfer will resume in such cases," she had said earlier. The state estimates there are approximately 2.25 crore legitimate beneficiaries of the scheme.
This drive underscores the government's effort to leverage technology for better governance and ensure that welfare schemes reach their intended beneficiaries, eliminating wastage of public funds and duplication.
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