The Ladki Bahin Yojana — a welfare scheme that played a key role in helping Maharashtra’s Mahayuti coalition win recent elections — is now facing serious scrutiny. A recent audit revealed that more than 1 million women may have received benefits they weren’t eligible for, raising concerns about the scheme’s execution, oversight, and financial sustainability.
Let’s break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what it means for the future of welfare schemes in Maharashtra.
What Is the Ladki Bahin Yojana?
Launched by the BJP-led Mahayuti government, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was designed to empower economically weaker women in Maharashtra by providing them with a monthly cash assistance of ₹1,500. Inspired by similar programs in other BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, the scheme aimed to improve the financial independence of women who often face limited economic opportunities.
When launched, over 24.6 million women were listed as beneficiaries, making it one of the largest direct benefit transfer (DBT) programs targeting women in India.
How the Scheme Became Politically Significant
After a disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Mahayuti government, led by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis, aggressively pushed welfare schemes to rebuild political goodwill. Ladki Bahin Yojana emerged as the flagship among several initiatives, including:
- Free pilgrimages for senior citizens.
- Stipends for apprentices to promote skill development.
- Toll exemptions for passenger vehicles entering Mumbai.
Political observers noted that many women voters, often referred to as the “silent vote bank,” turned out in support of Mahayuti during state assembly elections, largely due to this financial aid.
The Controversy: Over 1 Million Ineligible Beneficiaries Detected
Despite its initial success, a massive verification exercise exposed significant irregularities. According to data released by the state government:
- 885,000 women were receiving benefits under both Ladki Bahin Yojana and Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana (NSMNY), which already offers ₹12,000 annually to farmers. These women will now see their Ladki Bahin benefits reduced to ₹6,000 annually.
- Over 2,000 government employees were found receiving benefits despite being explicitly ineligible.
- Around 108,000 women were above the age limit of 65 years but still receiving payments.
- Complaints emerged that some wealthier individuals with four-wheelers were receiving the cash doles, despite not qualifying.
Quick Snapshot of Key Findings
| Issue | Number of Cases |
|---|---|
| Dual beneficiaries (Ladki Bahin + NSMNY) | 885,000 |
| Ineligible government employees | 2,289 |
| Over age limit (above 65 years) | 108,000 |
| Trimmed applications (field-level rejection) | ~600,000 |
Why These Issues Went Undetected Initially
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar admitted that proper screening was not conducted before rolling out the program. With elections only a few months away, the government had limited time to vet applications thoroughly.
“We had very little time when the scheme was launched. There were just two to three months to go before the polls,” Pawar explained.
The rush to secure voter support meant corners were cut — a decision that has now led to serious financial and political consequences.
How the Verification Was Conducted
To uncover these discrepancies, Maharashtra’s state government used an advanced data analytics approach. Over 120 million data records from departments such as:
- Food and Civil Supplies
- Women and Child Development
- Agriculture
- General Administration
- Police
- Transport
… were cross-referenced to eliminate duplicate or fraudulent entries.
Authorities also sought approval from the Union Government to link Ladki Bahin beneficiaries’ data with Income Tax PAN records and vehicle registration data for deeper verification.
Political Fallout and Opposition Criticism
As expected, the opposition has seized on these revelations. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut accused the government of financial mismanagement, even calling for Ajit Pawar’s resignation:
“This is nothing less than a financial scam. Public money has been looted under your watch,” Raut stated.
He further alleged that some men fraudulently obtained benefits by altering their names to appear as women, further deepening the controversy.
Income Threshold and Other Eligibility Concerns
Originally, the Ladki Bahin scheme was meant for:
- Women aged 18 to 65 years.
- Maharashtra domiciles only.
- Families with annual income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh.
- Households without a four-wheeler.
- Non-government employees.
However, district-level investigations found that several beneficiaries crossed these thresholds. In some instances, applicants with higher incomes voluntarily surrendered their benefits after realizing they no longer qualified.
“We even received applications from women who wished to give up the benefits after their incomes exceeded the eligibility limit,” shared Aditi Tatkare, Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Minister.
Financial Implications for the State
By identifying these ineligible beneficiaries, the government expects to save nearly ₹1,056 crore annually. In addition, recovery efforts are underway:
- Government employees who unlawfully received the benefits will face disciplinary action and may be required to repay the amount.
- Additional audits are planned to cross-check remaining beneficiary lists.
Lessons for Future Welfare Schemes
This entire episode serves as a cautionary tale for policymakers:
Key Takeaways:
- Speed vs. Accuracy: Fast rollouts before elections can compromise due diligence.
- Technology Use: Leveraging big data and inter-departmental coordination is essential for fraud detection.
- Transparent Monitoring: Public databases, linked with income tax and property ownership records, can improve accountability.
- Public Participation: Encouraging beneficiaries to self-declare disqualification status helps reduce misuse.
Several other Indian states planning similar welfare initiatives can learn valuable lessons from Maharashtra’s challenges.
Conclusion: A Reality Check for Populist Policies
While the Ladki Bahin Yojana succeeded in providing much-needed financial support to millions of women, its hasty implementation has exposed serious flaws. The discovery of widespread ineligibility underscores the importance of strong vetting, continuous monitoring, and inter-agency data sharing for large-scale welfare programs.
As the Maharashtra government moves ahead with corrective measures, other states—and indeed the central government—will be watching closely.
