State Tightens Scrutiny Under Welfare Scheme Verification Drive
The Maharashtra government’s large-scale verification exercise under the Ladki Bahin Yojana is moving towards a major rationalisation of beneficiaries, with officials indicating that the final eligible count may be capped at around 1.5 crore. The scheme, which was launched in 2024 with over 2.5 crore registered beneficiaries, is now undergoing multiple layers of verification to ensure compliance with eligibility rules.
Multiple Phases of Eligibility Checks Underway
In the first phase of scrutiny, authorities flagged beneficiaries from households owning four-wheelers, those using tractors primarily for non-agricultural purposes, and applicants whose annual family income exceeded the prescribed ₹2.5 lakh limit. This initial filtering significantly reduced the beneficiary list before the second round of checks began.
Sharp Drop in Beneficiary Numbers After Reverification
Following deeper verification, the beneficiary count dropped to around 2.4 crore. Subsequent audits uncovered irregularities, including instances where the monthly assistance of ₹1,500 was being credited to bank accounts belonging to male family members instead of eligible women. Further checks also identified government employees among recipients, leading to their removal from the scheme.
Cross-Verification With Other Welfare Schemes
Authorities also initiated verification for beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities by linking records with respective welfare departments to ensure there was no duplication of benefits across multiple government schemes. This process further refined the eligibility list.
e-KYC Drive Brings Numbers Below Two Crore
An extensive electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification campaign has played a key role in tightening the beneficiary database. The number has now been reduced to below 2 crore and further declined to approximately 1.88 crore. Officials suggest the figure is likely to decrease further as verification continues, potentially stabilising closer to the proposed cap of 1.5 crore in the coming months.
