Row erupts as over 80 lakh declared ineligible for Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra; CM defends move

A senior official on Monday, however, said that the beneficiary count has dropped from 2.4 crore to nearly 1.7 crore after the April 30 e-KYC deadline, but the disqualifications were also linked to non-compliance with eligibility criteria.

Mumbai: Maharashtra's flagship welfare programme, the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, has entered a fresh controversy after more than 80 lakh beneficiaries were found ineligible following a state-wide verification exercise, sparking a political confrontation between the ruling BJP-led Maha Yuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

The development has reignited a larger debate over the sustainability, transparency and targeting of large-scale welfare schemes that have increasingly become central to electoral politics across India. Similar schemes also exist in some other states. 

According to government sources, the number of beneficiaries has fallen from nearly 2.4 crore women to around 1.7 crore after completing the e-KYC verification process and eligibility review. 

Opposition parties have alleged that the large-scale reduction reflects administrative failures and possible financial stress within the state government, while demanding an independent inquiry and audit.

Launched in July 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Ladki Bahin scheme provides eligible women aged between 21 and 65 years with a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500. The programme emerged as one of the Maha Yuti government's most popular welfare initiatives and was widely credited with helping the BJP-led alliance secure a decisive electoral victory later that year.

The controversy now strikes at the heart of one of the government's most politically significant programmes.

Government officials have defended the verification exercise, arguing that the reduction in beneficiaries resulted from eligibility screening rather than arbitrary exclusion.

Officials said women were given an eight-month window to complete e-KYC formalities. According to the government, between 50 lakh and 55 lakh women failed to complete the verification process, while around 12 lakh beneficiaries were found to be income-tax payers exceeding the annual income threshold of Rs 2.5 lakh. Another 4.5 lakh women had crossed the upper age limit, and approximately five lakh beneficiaries were already receiving assistance under other schemes, including the Namo Shetkari programme.

The government has rejected allegations that all 80 lakh beneficiaries were removed solely because of non-compliance with e-KYC requirements.

However, opposition leaders have questioned the discrepancies between the government's public claims and the figures available on the scheme's portal.

NCP (SP) working president and Baramati MP Supriya Sule demanded a detailed explanation from the government, noting that while official statements suggested beneficiary numbers had peaked at around 2.46 crore to 2.48 crore, the portal currently reflects significantly lower numbers of applications and approvals.

She called for a high-level inquiry and an independent financial and administrative audit to determine how beneficiaries were selected, why large numbers were disqualified and whether public funds were properly utilised.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the government of abandoning women after securing electoral gains from the scheme, while Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut alleged that the programme had been launched primarily for political purposes.

Responding to allegations, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that it is the largest such scheme in any state in the country. "We haven't excluded anyone," he said.

"There were several criteria for being eligible. We initiated KYC, but those who didn't complete KYC were suspected. It was discovered that 14,000 men, 500,000 government employees, 1 million income tax payers, and 500,000 vehicle owners were excluded. Those who were ineligible and lacked KYC were blocked. The KYC of 2.5 million women was incorrect, so we corrected it. The government is ready to re-enact KYC, but ineligible individuals will not receive any money."

Beyond the immediate political clash, the episode highlights the challenges governments face in implementing large-scale cash transfer programmes. As states across India increasingly rely on direct-benefit schemes aimed at women, farmers and vulnerable groups, issues of beneficiary identification, fiscal sustainability and transparency are becoming critical governance concerns.

The Maharashtra government is already under pressure to balance welfare commitments with fiscal discipline.

With nearly 1.7 crore women expected to continue receiving benefits under the scheme, the Ladki Bahin Yojana remains one of the largest welfare programmes in the country.