Maharashtra Flags 26 Lakh Ineligible Beneficiaries Under Ladki Bahin Yojana for Review

Fast Summary

• Maharashtra government identified approximately 26 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under teh Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme.
• Data provided by the Data and Technology Department highlights ineligibility due to violations such as claiming multiple benefits or exceeding permissible limits.
• Physical verification is ongoing at district levels to confirm eligibility per scheme criteria.
• Eligible beneficiaries continue receiving ₹1,500 monthly assistance uninterrupted during scrutiny.
• The scheme targets women aged 21-65 years with annual incomes below ₹2.5 lakh who do not claim benefits from other government schemes.
• Minister for Women and Child development, Aditi Tatkare, stated corrective action will be taken post-verification per directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde & Ajit Pawar.
• Cases where male account numbers were used or genuine reasons for discrepancies will be re-evaluated carefully.

Indian Opinion analysis

The identification of 26 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme raises concerns about administrative oversight and misuse of welfare programs in Maharashtra. While scrutiny aims to ensure fairness by verifying legitimate claims, it also underscores challenges like duplicate claims stemming from systemic gaps or procedural errors-issues frequently enough seen in large-scale welfare schemes across India.Careful handling of this situation can strengthen public confidence by showcasing accountability without disrupting aid for eligible individuals relying on direct cash transfers as lifelines. The government’s obvious approach with reassessment promises, especially cases like women using accounts of male family members due to lack of their own accounts, is commendable but highlights structural financial barriers faced by sections of society.

ensuring seamless execution while minimizing exclusion errors remains key to achieving equitable outcomes under ambitious social schemes like this one.

Read more: The Hindu