Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is set to exclude 50 lakh women from the 'Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana' as part of a cost-cutting measure to ease the financial burden on the state treasury. Introduced before the Assembly elections, the scheme promised Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women, but mounting expenses have forced the Mahayuti government to tighten eligibility criteria.

Both Dy CMs Batting For Scheme Since Its Introduction

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar praised the 'Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana' after its introduction and after the Mahayuti alliance's victory in the recent Assembly Elections.

Shinde called it a 'transformative step towards women's financial independence,' while Pawar stressed its potential to uplift economically weaker sections. After the Assembly elections, both leaders hailed the scheme's success, attributing it to the government's commitment to social welfare and women's empowerment.

The scheme initially had 2.46 crore beneficiaries, leading to a hefty monthly expenditure of around Rs 3,700 crore. Over the past six months, the initiative has cost the state approximately Rs 21,600 crore, impacting the funding of other crucial government programs.

Maha Govt Tightens Grip On Ineligible Beneficiaries

To address this, the government has begun scrutinizing beneficiaries' financial status with the help of the Income Tax Department. So far, nearly 9 lakh women have been removed from the scheme and the target is to disqualify a total of 50 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, reported Saamana. This move is expected to save the state Rs 1,620 crore annually.

In January, the government’s stricter checks reduced the beneficiary count by 5 lakh, saving about Rs 75 crore. In February, another 4 lakh women were excluded, adding Rs 60 crore to the savings. The primary focus is on beneficiaries with yellow and orange ration cards and those under the Namo Shetkari Samman Nidhi.

e-KYC Introduced To Ensure Deserving Applicants Get Benefits

To facilitate the screening process, the government has mandated e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) verification, ensuring that only genuinely deserving candidates continue to receive benefits under the scheme.

While this move might stabilise state finances, it has sparked concerns among affected women and raised questions about the scheme’s political implications as elections approach.