Maharashtra Drops 92 Lakh Names From Ladki Bahin Scheme After Eligibility Checks

Maharashtra has removed more than 92 lakh names from the beneficiary list of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana following a large-scale verification exercise.

The scheme had initially covered around 2.4 crore women. The latest reduction amounts to roughly 38 per cent of the original beneficiary base and is substantially higher than the estimate of about 80 lakh exclusions indicated earlier.

The programme, approved in June 2024, provides eligible women aged between 21 and 65 years with monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 through direct benefit transfer. It was introduced to support women’s financial independence, health and nutrition.

Why Beneficiaries Were Removed

Failure to complete electronic know-your-customer, or e-KYC, requirements accounted for the largest share of removals. Around 50-55 lakh beneficiaries reportedly did not complete the process within the permitted period, despite being given several months to do so.

Eligibility checks also found that the annual family income of around 12 lakh women was above the scheme’s prescribed ceiling. More than 4.5 lakh beneficiaries were found to be older than the maximum age of 65 years, according to a recent report by NDTV.

Authorities also identified beneficiaries receiving assistance under other government programmes, including the Namo Shetkari Yojana. Around 14,000 male applicants were also detected during scrutiny and removed from the women-only programme.

Beed district recorded one of the sharpest reductions. Earlier district-level figures showed that about 2.83 lakh women had been declared ineligible, bringing its beneficiary count down from around 6.36 lakh to approximately 3.53 lakh.

Complaints And Re-Verification

The beneficiary list may not yet be final. The state government is examining grievances from women who believe their payments were stopped incorrectly. Cases found to meet the rules could be restored after re-verification.

Women whose names have been removed should check whether their e-KYC was completed successfully and whether their Aadhaar and bank account details match the records submitted under the scheme. They should also verify their age, family income and receipt of benefits under any overlapping government programme before filing a complaint.

CAG Flags Financial Management Issues

The removals come as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised concerns over the scheme’s financial management during 2024-25.

The Women and Child Development Department spent Rs 33,237.24 crore against an authorised budget of Rs 29,693.09 crore, resulting in excess expenditure of Rs 3,541.16 crore. The audit said the department had not provided a specific justification for the excess spending.

The CAG also called for more realistic estimates of beneficiaries and funding requirements in large direct benefit transfer schemes. The ongoing verification exercise could lower the scheme’s future expenditure, but it must also ensure that eligible women are not excluded because of documentation or technical problems.

FAQs

Why were over 92 lakh beneficiaries removed from the Ladki Bahin Scheme?

Most removals were linked to incomplete e-KYC, income above the eligibility limit, age restrictions, duplicate benefits and ineligible applicants.

Can wrongly excluded beneficiaries get their names restored?

Yes. Women who meet the eligibility conditions may file a grievance and seek re-verification of their documents and beneficiary status.

What should beneficiaries check before raising a complaint?

They should verify their e-KYC status, Aadhaar-bank account details, age, family income and whether they receive benefits under another government scheme.