Maharashtra’s flagship welfare initiative, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, has witnessed a major decline in the number of beneficiaries after a large-scale verification process. Nearly 8 million women have been removed from the scheme’s beneficiary list following the completion of the government’s e-KYC verification drive.
The scheme, launched before the 2024 Assembly elections, was designed to provide direct financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month to eligible women through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). At the time of its launch, the scheme covered around 24.6 million women across the state.
E-KYC Verification Leads to Cleanup
According to government officials, only 16.6 million beneficiaries successfully completed the mandatory e-KYC process. The verification deadline had been extended multiple times over several months, giving beneficiaries additional opportunities to complete the required formalities.
The verification exercise was introduced to identify duplicate, invalid, and ineligible entries in the database. After the scrutiny process concluded, authorities removed beneficiaries who either failed to complete e-KYC or did not meet the eligibility criteria.
Officials believe the current beneficiary count is unlikely to increase significantly, as the verification window has already been closed and no further extensions are expected.
Government Defends the Move
The Maharashtra government has defended the decision, stating that the objective was to ensure that financial assistance reaches only genuine and eligible beneficiaries. Authorities argued that repeated extensions and awareness campaigns were conducted before the final verification deadline.
Government representatives have also clarified that the scheme itself is not being discontinued. Instead, the exercise was aimed at improving transparency and reducing misuse of public funds.
Political Reactions Intensify
The sharp reduction in beneficiary numbers has triggered political debate across the state. Opposition leaders have accused the government of removing a large number of women from a scheme that was promoted as a major welfare measure for financial empowerment.
Critics argue that many deserving beneficiaries may have been excluded because of procedural or digital challenges associated with the e-KYC process. They have demanded greater clarity regarding the verification criteria and the reasons behind the mass removals.
What Lies Ahead?
With more than 16 million women still receiving benefits, the Ladki Bahin Yojana remains one of Maharashtra’s largest welfare schemes. However, the recent beneficiary reduction has raised questions about implementation, digital accessibility, and the balance between transparency and inclusion in large-scale social welfare programs.
As political discussions continue, the government will likely face increasing pressure to explain the verification process and address concerns raised by affected women across the state.
