Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Scheme Shocker: Over 2,200 Govt Staff Caught Cashing In

Maharashtra’s Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a key welfare initiative aimed at empowering women by providing ₹1,500 monthly to eligible recipients, is facing serious scrutiny after it was revealed that over 2,200 government employees received benefits despite not qualifying.

 

Key Highlights

 

•⁠  ⁠Ineligible Beneficiaries Identified: A review of nearly 2 lakh applications uncovered that 2,289 government employees had signed up for and received financial aid under the scheme, even though there are clear rules that disqualify government employees.

 

•⁠  ⁠Verification Drive: The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, working alongside the General Administration Department (GAD) and the Information Technology Department, carried out a detailed cross-verification using UID-based data, which helped pinpoint the ineligible beneficiaries.

 

•⁠  ⁠Financial Misuse: The estimated total amount misused is around ₹3.58 crore, with each ineligible beneficiary receiving ₹13,500 between August 2024 and April 2025.

 

•⁠  ⁠Immediate Action: The government has already halted further payments to the identified ineligible beneficiaries since January–February 2025.

 

•⁠  ⁠Broader Impact: Payments have also been stopped for 7.7 lakh women who were found to be receiving benefits from both the Ladki Bahin and Namo Shetkari schemes, in line with the scheme’s guidelines.

 

•⁠  ⁠Commitment to Transparency: WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare stressed that the verification of beneficiaries is an ongoing effort, and the government is dedicated to ensuring that only eligible women benefit from the scheme.

 

Outlook

 

This revelation has drawn criticism from opposition leaders, who are demanding stricter oversight and the recovery of misappropriated funds. However, the Maharashtra government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and regular verification processes. As the state works to close loopholes, this situation highlights the need for strong monitoring systems in welfare programs.

 

Source: Vartha Bharati, Indian Express, Free Press Journal