Maha govt ensures transparency in Ladki Bahin Yojana, asks beneficiaries to complete e-KYC process in two months

Mumbai: In a bid to bring in transparency in the flagship Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and weed out illegal beneficiaries, the Maharashtra government has decided to complete the e-KYC process within the next two months.

A government resolution (GR) was issued late on Thursday night. 

“The highest priority is transparency,” state women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare said. 

The e-KYC facility has been made available on the web portal - ladki bahin.maharashtra.gov.in. 

“A humble request to all beneficiary sisters of the scheme to complete the e-KYC process within the next 2 months from today,” said Tatkare, who has been piloting the scheme since its launch in the run up to the 2024 Vidhan Sabha polls. 

"This process is extremely simple, easy, and convenient, and to maintain transparency in the scheme and ensure regular benefits to eligible beneficiaries, everyone should complete this process. This process will also be useful for availing benefits of other government schemes in the future,” Tatkare posted on X and tagged Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. 

The scheme was launched by Maha Yuti dispensation - when Shinde was the chief minister - ahead of Assembly polls and this helped them come to power with a huge margin. 

Under the scheme, which was launched from July 2024, the government provides Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women in the age group of 21-60 years age bracket for overall progress of women, including economic independence, self-reliance, health and nutrition.

At the time of launch, the government took self-declarations from all the applicants.

Even the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government promised that once they return to power, they would make it Rs 2,100, however, the Fadnavis-headed dispensation did not do so. 

From the beginning, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi  has made allegations that the scheme would be shut because of irregularities and have a burden on the state exchequer.

However, because of allegations, the Women and Child Development Department asked the Information and Technology Department to carry out a survey, which figured out approximately 26 lakh beneficiaries who do not appear to be eligible as per the scheme's criteria. In fact, 14,292 men also pocketed from the scheme. Subsequently, a physical survey was also asked to be undertaken by district authorities.