The Maharashtra government has launched an investigation into complaints about fraudulent beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that provides a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to eligible women. The scrutiny follows allegations of ineligible individuals exploiting the scheme through false documentation.
Announcing the move on Thursday, Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare clarified that the government is addressing only verified complaints. “We are not conducting a blanket scrutiny of all beneficiaries or altering any policies. The investigation is based solely on complaints received by local government offices,” she said.
Introduced by the Eknath Shinde-led government in August last year, the scheme was pivotal to the ruling Mahayuti coalition’s success in the November 2024 elections. However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had signaled a review of beneficiaries amid mounting concerns.
Tatkare revealed that data has been sought from the Income Tax and Transport Departments to verify reported cases. Complaints include beneficiaries surpassing the annual income threshold of ₹2.5 lakh or owning four-wheelers, both of which disqualify them. Other issues include duplicate applications, Aadhaar mismatches, and domicile discrepancies, with some beneficiaries relocating outside Maharashtra post-marriage.
The minister also addressed concerns about beneficiaries receiving support from multiple government schemes. “If a woman benefits from another scheme, she will receive only the remaining balance under the Ladki Bahin scheme. For instance, if ₹1,000 is provided by another initiative, she will receive ₹500 instead of the full ₹1,500,” Tatkare explained.
Complaints have been reported from districts such as Palghar, Yavatmal, Wardha, and Phaltan, prompting the ministry to initiate cross-verification. Some beneficiaries have voluntarily opted out of the scheme after securing government jobs, she added.
While the extent of fraudulent beneficiaries remains unclear, Tatkare stated that time is needed to assess the magnitude. “We are committed to ensuring that only eligible women benefit from this program,” she affirmed.
