Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 13: The Maharashtra government has removed more than 92 lakh beneficiaries from the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana following a state-wide verification exercise, even as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged excess expenditure of Rs 3,541.16 crore and budgetary irregularities in the flagship welfare scheme.

According to government records, over 92 lakh beneficiaries were found ineligible during the verification process, reducing the number of active beneficiaries under the scheme to around 1.66 crore.

Launched in June 2024, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana provides eligible women aged between 21 and 65 years with a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme is widely regarded as a key factor behind the Mahayuti alliance's victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024.

Official records indicate that nearly 38 per cent of beneficiaries enrolled under the scheme have now been removed, a figure significantly higher than the approximately 80 lakh deletions previously disclosed by the state government.

Around 62 lakh beneficiaries were removed after failing to complete the mandatory electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification process. Others were declared ineligible for exceeding the prescribed annual income limit, being government employees, receiving benefits under other welfare schemes or crossing the upper age limit.

Authorities also found that about 29,000 beneficiaries were men who had fraudulently registered under the scheme and were subsequently disqualified.

The scheme had previously come under scrutiny after it emerged that Rs 21.44 crore had been transferred to 14,298 men through fraudulent registrations.

Meanwhile, the Comptroller and Auditor General, in its State Finances Audit Report 2024-25 tabled in the Maharashtra Legislature, highlighted a sharp increase in expenditure on women's welfare following the introduction of the scheme.

According to the report, expenditure under the women welfare category increased by 12,717.77 per cent, rising from Rs 261.78 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 33,554.36 crore in 2024-25.

"The sharp rise was observed under Women welfare from Rs 261.78 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 33,554.36 crore in 2024-25, especially under the scheme 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', which reflects a major push toward welfare-oriented transfers rather than capital formation," the CAG report stated.

The audit report also noted that the Women and Child Development Department had not provided any specific justification for the excess expenditure of Rs 3,541.16 crore incurred under the scheme.

In addition, the CAG flagged a significant reduction in expenditure on housing, water supply and sanitation during 2024-25, warning that lower investment in infrastructure-related sectors could adversely affect the long-term sustainability of public service delivery.