In a shocking revelation, over 14,298 men fraudulently enrolled in Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme designed exclusively for low-income women aged 21–65. These men received ₹1,500 per month for 10 months, causing a ₹21.44 crore loss to the state exchequer. Their payouts have now been halted.
The scheme, launched in June last year, was a key electoral promise of the Mahayuti coalition and helped it win the assembly elections. Its goal is to enhance women’s health, nutrition, and overall well-being through direct financial assistance.
₹1,640 Crore Lost to Widespread Fraud
The Ladki Bahin scheme has faced repeated scrutiny due to its ballooning costs and widespread misuse. According to the latest government review, ₹1,640 crore was lost in just 12 months due to fraudulent claims by various ineligible beneficiaries:
- 162,000 women from families owning four-wheelers
- 287,000 women over 65 years of age
- 797,000 women enrolled as a third family member (only two are allowed)
These categories alone accounted for over ₹1,627 crore in wrongful disbursements.
2.63 Million Ineligible Beneficiaries Detected
The Women and Child Development Department found that 2.634 million beneficiaries were ineligible. Payments to them have been stopped. Officials admitted that the online registration system, while accessible, made it easier for fraudulent entries. Going forward, the department will introduce physical verification and income eligibility checks using data from the Income Tax department.
Recovery and Legal Action on the Cards
Minister Aditi Tatkare confirmed that the government is coordinating with district collectors to verify data at the grassroots. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the state will recover money from ineligible male beneficiaries and pursue legal action if they fail to cooperate.
The case exposes deep flaws in digital-only welfare enrollment and underscores the urgent need for multi-level vetting in large-scale public welfare schemes.
