Political Turmoil Erupts Over Maharashtra's Chief Minister's Women's Welfare Scheme

Political Controversy Surrounds Women's Welfare Initiative

A significant political uproar has emerged in Maharashtra regarding the state's ambitious 'Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana'. Following an extensive e-KYC verification process that lasted several months, the government has excluded approximately 8.1 million beneficiaries from the scheme. This drastic action has sparked intense exchanges between the ruling coalition and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). Aditi Tatkare, the Minister for Women and Child Development, stated that the verification campaign aimed to identify and remove ineligible beneficiaries who did not meet the eligibility criteria, including income tax payers and families of government employees. However, opposition parties have accused the government of using the scheme as an electoral tool ahead of the 2024 assembly elections, questioning the removal of such a large number of beneficiaries.

Reasons for Beneficiary Exclusion

During a press conference on Monday, Tatkare explained that the e-KYC process was made mandatory to ensure that financial assistance reaches only eligible women. She noted that when the scheme was launched, 26.3 million individuals registered for benefits, with 24.7 million women ultimately receiving monthly financial aid. As the department initiated the e-KYC to eliminate ineligible beneficiaries, the number began to decline. The minister clarified that reports suggesting the removal of 9.2 to 9.3 million beneficiaries were based on total registrations rather than actual beneficiaries. "After the e-KYC drive, the number of beneficiaries reached between 16.7 to 17 million. If you subtract this from the initial registration figure, you arrive at the 9.2 to 9.3 million figure," she explained.

Details of Ineligible Beneficiaries

Tatkare provided insights into the verification process and the reasons behind the exclusions. According to her, around 6.2 million women who had previously received benefits failed to complete the necessary e-KYC despite multiple deadline extensions. Additionally, approximately 1.6 million beneficiaries were found to have a family income exceeding the threshold of ₹2.5 lakh per annum. Furthermore, about 442,000 women were declared ineligible due to having a family member employed in government service. The verification process also uncovered registrations of some men and government employees who had wrongfully benefited despite being ineligible. She mentioned that the e-KYC process commenced in August 2025, initially allowing beneficiaries six months to complete it, with the government extending support until April to assist applicants in rectifying deficiencies and completing verification.

Recovery of Incorrectly Disbursed Funds

The minister indicated that the government has initiated recovery actions against government employees who improperly benefited from the scheme. According to her, the recovery process began approximately eight to ten months ago, with the recovered funds being deposited into the state treasury.

Overview of the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana

The Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched by the Maharashtra government on June 28, 2024, aimed at empowering women's economic independence. Under this scheme, eligible women aged between 21 and 65 receive ₹1,500 monthly financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

Opposition's Allegations: Political Manipulation of the Scheme

The verification drive has intensified political attacks, with opposition leaders accusing the ruling coalition of using this welfare scheme to sway voters ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut demanded accountability from senior officials and ministers involved in implementing the scheme, suggesting that their personal assets should be seized and funds recovered. He also claimed that the scheme would ultimately be discontinued. State Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged serious financial irregularities in the program's implementation, questioning the government's expenditure of ₹29,693 crore allocated for the scheme, which exceeded the approved budget by ₹3,541 crore without any records or accountability. He asked, "Is this a government or a gang of looters?"

Concerns Raised by Political Leaders

Sapkal further claimed that spending on women's welfare programs surged from ₹261.78 crore to ₹33,554 crore during 2024-25, while allocations for housing schemes saw a 54% reduction, and expenditures on water supply and sanitation dropped by 31.81%. Congress MP and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad questioned the government's decision to remove beneficiaries after months of providing financial assistance, asking, "If these women were ineligible, why were they given benefits until now? And if they were eligible, why were they removed from the scheme? Was there a disregard for rules to gain votes before the elections, only to enforce them later due to financial pressure?"

Criticism from Other Political Parties

NCP (SP) spokesperson Ravikant Varpe criticized the government, alleging that nearly 38% of beneficiaries were removed post-elections. He posted on X, "The number of beneficiaries has decreased from 24 million to less than 38%, with many women suddenly deemed ineligible. Was this a welfare scheme or merely an electoral tactic?" MNS spokesperson Anil Shidore described the situation as "alarming," asserting that thousands of crores were spent on ineligible beneficiaries. He noted that the removal of millions of beneficiaries indicates significant financial mismanagement, including 442,000 family members of government employees, 29,000 men, and 8,000 government employees. He also pointed out that the CAG highlighted an excess expenditure of ₹3,541 crore beyond the planned budget. The scheme was announced in June 2024, with two installments disbursed in August, shortly before the assembly elections, making it easy for aware citizens to draw their conclusions.