The Maharashtra government’s flagship welfare scheme ‘CM Majhi Ladki Bahin’ is under scrutiny again after it was discovered that over 2,200 ineligible women beneficiaries were state government employees. These individuals have now been removed from the beneficiary list following a verification drive.
Launched in August 2023, the scheme offers monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to women aged between 21 and 65 from economically weaker sections. However, salaried government employees are not eligible to avail the benefits under this programme.
An internal audit revealed that these government employees had been receiving the assistance since June 2023, violating the eligibility rules. While their names have now been struck off the list, there is ambiguity about whether the disbursed funds will be recovered. Some departments have reportedly begun inquiries, but no official announcement has been made regarding a blanket recovery process.
The state’s Women and Child Development Department is continuing its verification process to weed out ineligible beneficiaries. Officials confirmed that nearly two lakh entries have been reviewed so far. The process will be ongoing to maintain the integrity of the scheme and ensure that only deserving women receive support.
While key ministers have acknowledged lapses in the enrolment process, they cited limited timelines and election pressures during the scheme’s rollout as reasons for the oversight. However, calls for accountability are growing, especially from within the ruling coalition itself, with some leaders demanding recovery of funds paid out to ineligible employees.
The incident raises questions about the efficiency of welfare distribution and the importance of robust verification mechanisms. The government is now being pressurised to tighten checks and also take corrective measures to preserve public trust in the scheme.
