Maharashtra government to probe 26 lakh 'suspect' beneficiaries of Ladki Bahin Yojana, begins verification drive

The state govt had officially launched the Ladki Bahin Yojana in 2024. File Pic

The Maharashtra government has initiated a large-scale verification drive to probe over 26 lakh beneficiaries of its 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' amid concerns over widespread ineligibility and misuse, officials from the state Women and Child Development department said on Saturday, reported PTI.

District administrations have been instructed to physically verify the applications and eligibility of the women listed under the scheme, following specific criteria. Meanwhile, anganwadi workers have been assigned to conduct door-to-door inspections to identify and remove ineligible claimants, the officials added.

The scheme permits benefits for only two women per household between the ages of 21 and 65. However, officials noted that there have been instances where more than two women from the same family, or women outside the specified age range, have received the monthly payment of Rs 1,500, reported PTI.

According to department officials, the current scrutiny is focused mainly on two conditions: the age and the number of beneficiaries per household.

"Women found outside the eligible age group will be disqualified, and in households with more than two beneficiaries, only two will remain eligible. Additional checks are being conducted for bogus documents, false transfer certificates, and ownership of four-wheelers," an official said.

The Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched last year by the then Mahayuti government and is credited with helping the ruling alliance - consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, secure a comprehensive victory in the November 2024 assembly elections, reported PTI.

Earlier reports revealed that approximately 14,000 men had received payments under the scheme, totaling over Rs 21 crore, over a period of up to 10 months. A separate investigation found that more than 2,000 government employees had also exploited the scheme for undue benefits.

"The ongoing verification will also cover Jalna district, where 70,000 beneficiaries are under scrutiny. The WCD department has prepared a list of suspected ineligible claimants, and field checks have already begun in several districts," the official said.

As reported by PTI, officials also indicated that the verification process is being driven by the increasing financial strain the scheme places on the state treasury, especially since applications were initially approved without strict checks during the run-up to the Assembly elections.

(Inputs from PTI)