No Eligible Woman Excluded From Ladki Bahin Scheme, Says Fadnavis Amid Audit Findings

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday sought to clarify concerns surrounding the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, asserting that no eligible beneficiary has been excluded from the welfare scheme. He also announced that funds already disbursed to women later found to be ineligible would not be recovered, although strict action would be taken against fraudulent beneficiaries who knowingly misused the programme.

Speaking to reporters after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Fadnavis revealed the findings of a large-scale Know Your Customer (KYC) verification and database audit conducted by the state government. The exercise was launched after the scheme initially relied on self-certification to enable quicker registration and ensure women could begin receiving assistance without delays associated with document verification.

According to the Chief Minister, the verification process involved cross-checking beneficiary data against multiple government databases, including income tax records, government employee payroll systems, vehicle registration data, and ration card information. The audit reportedly uncovered significant discrepancies, including more than 5 lakh women who were employed in government services, nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries whose annual income exceeded the prescribed limit of ₹2.5 lakh, and approximately 14,000 men who had allegedly received benefits intended exclusively for women.

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Fadnavis said that despite repeated reminders over the past nine months, a large number of beneficiaries failed to complete the mandatory KYC process. He stated that payments to individuals who either failed verification or did not complete KYC would be discontinued immediately. However, he emphasized that women who had received funds in good faith would not be required to return the money already disbursed under the scheme.

The Chief Minister drew a distinction between ineligible women and those who deliberately exploited the programme. While ruling out recovery from women beneficiaries, he warned that the state would pursue recovery proceedings against the 14,000 men identified during the audit. “Every single rupee” obtained fraudulently would be recovered, he said, underscoring the government's commitment to protecting public funds and maintaining accountability.

Fadnavis further stated that around 1.70 crore eligible women have successfully completed KYC verification and will continue receiving benefits without interruption. He added that the government remains willing to reopen the verification window for individuals who believe they meet the eligibility criteria but have not yet completed the process. Reiterating that the scheme's original guidelines excluded government employees, higher-income households, and owners of four-wheeled vehicles, he said the verification drive was necessary to ensure that assistance reaches only those genuinely entitled to receive it.

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