More than 92 lakh women have been removed from the beneficiary list of Maharashtra’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana following a large-scale verification exercise. According to the latest government figures, Beed district has recorded the highest number of removals.
The Maharashtra government had earlier indicated that nearly 80 lakh beneficiaries would be removed after the mandatory e-KYC verification process. However, the latest data shows the number has now crossed 92 lakh, reducing the beneficiary base by nearly 38 per cent from the original 2.4 crore recipients.
Officials said the removals were based on multiple eligibility criteria, not just incomplete verification.
Around 50-55 lakh women were removed after failing to complete the mandatory e-KYC process within the stipulated deadline. Another 12 lakh women were found to have annual family incomes exceeding the scheme’s eligibility limit, while over 4.5 lakh beneficiaries were above the maximum age limit of 65 years.
Authorities also found that nearly 14,000 men had applied for benefits under the women-centric welfare scheme. Their names have also been removed from the list.
According to officials, Beed district alone accounted for nearly 28 lakh removals, the highest among all districts in Maharashtra.
A senior official said beneficiaries were given nearly eight months to complete the e-KYC process. Those who failed to do so were subsequently excluded from the scheme.
The verification exercise also found that nearly 12 lakh women were income taxpayers, making them ineligible under the scheme’s income criteria. In addition, around five lakh women were already receiving benefits under the Namo Shetkari Yojana, leading to their exclusion.
Officials clarified that the final number of beneficiaries will be determined only after the ongoing re-verification process is completed. The government is also examining grievances from individuals who claim their names were removed by mistake.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in a report released last week, flagged concerns over the financial impact of the scheme on Maharashtra’s finances. The report stated that expenditure of Rs 3,541 crore under the scheme “cannot be justified” and cautioned that the programme could place a significant burden on the state’s fiscal position.
According to the CAG, spending on women’s welfare in Maharashtra increased sharply from Rs 261.78 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 33,554.36 crore in 2024-25, following the launch of the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which was approved by the state government on June 28, 2024.