Ladki Bahin Yojana: Across the country, the Central and State governments operate numerous public welfare schemes aimed at the upliftment of women. You have likely heard of Maharashtra’s flagship scheme, the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ (Chief Minister’s My Beloved Sister Scheme). Under this scheme, a monthly financial stipend is transferred to a large number of women. However, an update regarding this scheme has recently emerged—one significant enough to leave you completely astounded.
You might be wondering: what kind of update could this be? In fact, the government has temporarily suspended the bank accounts of approximately 6.8 million women associated with the Mukhyamantri Majhi Bahin Yojana. These accounts were suspended because the beneficiaries failed to complete their e-KYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) verification. The government has, however, granted an extension until April 30th to complete the e-KYC process. If the procedure is completed within the stipulated timeframe, the accounts can be reactivated, ensuring that beneficiaries face no further difficulties.
Key Details Regarding the Scheme
According to a report by the State government, approximately 24.3 million bank accounts were opened under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Following the suspension of 6.8 million accounts due to the lack of e-KYC verification, the number of active accounts currently stands at approximately 17.5 million. This clearly indicates that a significant number of accounts had not undergone the necessary verification process.
A few days ago, reports surfaced suggesting that ineligible individuals were also availing the benefits of the scheme. These reports indicated the involvement of certain men and government employees in fraudulently accessing the benefits. Consequently, the government initiated a verification drive for all scheme beneficiaries and made e-KYC verification a mandatory requirement. Now, all women associated with the scheme are required to complete their e-KYC verification without fail.
Monthly Financial Outlay
Did you know that under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the State government transfers a staggering ₹3,700 crore directly into the bank accounts of women beneficiaries every single month? Each eligible woman receives a monthly stipend of ₹1,500. If individuals are identified as ineligible during the e-KYC verification process, it will result in a reduction of the financial burden on the state exchequer.
Will Funds Be Recovered from Ineligible Beneficiaries?
For your information, it is important to note that the government will not seek to recover the financial assistance already disbursed to individuals who are subsequently identified as ineligible during the e-KYC verification process. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have given assurances that this scheme will not be discontinued; rather, efforts will be directed toward ensuring it reaches only the rightful beneficiaries. The government’s primary priority is to exclude ineligible individuals from the scheme, thereby enabling the truly needy to reap its benefits.
