Ladki Bahin Yojana Fraud: Govt to Recover ₹35 Crore from 14,000 Men & Ineligible Staff!
Ladki Bahin Yojana: The Maharashtra government has uncovered significant irregularities in its flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana, a scheme designed to provide monthly financial aid to women from economically weaker sections. A recent investigation has revealed that thousands of ineligible individuals, including government employees and men, wrongfully benefited from the scheme, prompting the state to initiate strict recovery actions.
The government is now cracking down on these inappropriate beneficiaries to ensure the scheme’s integrity and that its benefits reach the intended recipients.
Massive Misuse of Funds Uncovered
The scale of the misappropriation is staggering. According to a statement by the Maharashtra government, an estimated ₹35 crore was disbursed to individuals who did not meet the eligibility criteria. The data, presented in the Legislative Council, paints a concerning picture of the lapses in the verification process.
In a written response, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare provided a breakdown of the ineligible beneficiaries identified so far:
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Join on Telegram| Category of Ineligible Beneficiary | Number Identified | Amount Misused |
|---|---|---|
| Government Employees | 1,526 | ₹14.5 crore |
| Men | 14,298 | (Part of the total ₹35 crore) |
Government Initiates Strict Recovery Action
In response to these findings, the government has ordered a full-scale recovery operation. All departments have been instructed to take necessary action against the identified government employees under the Maharashtra Civil Services Rules to reclaim the funds. Similarly, recovery proceedings will be initiated against all men who illegally received payments.
Earlier this year, a probe by the Information and Communications Technology Department flagged 2.63 million accounts as potentially ineligible. These suspicious accounts included cases where multiple members of the same family were receiving benefits or individuals were availing other schemes that made them ineligible. Consequently, payments to all such accounts were halted in June to prevent further losses. The verification drive has been extensive, and by February 2025, over 5 lakh ineligible people, including those over the age limit, had been removed from the beneficiary list.
Who is Actually Eligible for the Ladki Bahin Yojana?
To clarify the scheme’s rules, the government has reiterated the eligibility criteria. The scheme is open to:
- Married, widowed, divorced, or abandoned women.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 65.
- The total annual family income must be less than ₹2.5 lakh.
- An eligible unmarried woman in a family can also apply.
- Beneficiaries can receive aid from other schemes, but the total monthly assistance from all sources must not exceed ₹1,500.
This scheme was a significant talking point in Maharashtra politics and is believed to have played a key role in the Mahayuti alliance’s victory in the 2024 assembly elections. The subsequent verification campaign underscores the new government’s commitment to cleaning up the system and ensuring transparent delivery of welfare benefits.
