Fraudulent Claims in Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Scheme Cost State Millions
Overview of the Ladki Bahin Scheme
In Maharashtra, over 14,000 men reportedly received monthly payments under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for a duration of ten months, as revealed by a recent state government review. The Women and Child Development Department disclosed that 14,298 men had enrolled in the program by falsely representing their identities.
This fraudulent activity resulted in a financial loss of Rs 21.44 crore to the state's treasury, prompting the government to halt payments to these accounts.
Details of the Scheme
Initiated in June 2024, the scheme aims to provide a monthly financial aid of Rs 1,500 to women aged between 21 and 65 from families earning less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually. It is believed that the Ladki Bahin scheme significantly contributed to the Mahayuti alliance's success in securing 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly during the elections held in November.
This coalition includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Controversies and Financial Strain
The scheme has faced criticism due to the financial burden it places on the state. Regular audits have uncovered numerous cases of ineligible participants. Currently, the state allocates Rs 3,700 crore monthly to support 2.41 crore beneficiaries under this initiative.
On Saturday, Aditi Tatkare, the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister, announced that approximately 26.34 lakh individuals were found to be receiving benefits despite not qualifying for the scheme, according to the latest departmental review.
Actions Against Fraudulent Beneficiaries
Tatkare noted that some beneficiaries were enrolled in multiple schemes, while others had more than two beneficiaries in a single family, and in some instances, men had applied for the program. Consequently, benefits for these 26.34 lakh applicants will be temporarily suspended starting June 2025.
The records of these suspended beneficiaries will undergo verification by district collectors, and payments will resume for those deemed eligible. Tatkare emphasized that measures would be taken against fraudulent beneficiaries who misled the state.
Pawar also addressed the issue of men fraudulently receiving payments, asserting that strict actions would be enforced against such individuals. He reiterated that the Ladki Bahin scheme is intended solely for women from low-income backgrounds, stating, 'The state government will recover the funds from men who improperly received payments. If they do not cooperate, we will take stringent measures.'