The ‘Ladli Behna Yojana’, launched for women in Maharashtra, which was started about a year ago, is in the headlines these days due to a big scam. Under this scheme, eligible women are given Rs 1500 every month. But the shocking thing is that not only ineligible women took advantage of this scheme in Maharashtra, but what is even more surprising is that thousands of men have also taken advantage of this scheme by posing as women.
This has proved to be the biggest fraud of this scheme so far. More than 14,000 men have fraudulently grabbed money under the Ladli Behna Yojana. Let us know how much punishment is provided for doing this, and what action the government is taking on this.
Shocking disclosure in the audit
Recently, an audit of the Women and Child Development Department has revealed that Rs 21.44 crore was given to 14,298 men. These men got themselves registered as women by manipulating the online registration and fraudulently looting huge amounts. This big fraud has come to light about 10 months after the launch of the scheme.
What is Ladli Behna Yojana
The Ladli Behna Yojana was launched in the year 2024, a few months before the Maharashtra Assembly Elections. The main objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to the poor and needy women of the state. Under this scheme, Rs 1500 is given every month to those women in the age group of 21 to 65 years, whose families’ annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh. Due to this scam committed by men, the government treasury has suffered a loss of about Rs 21 crore, which is a misuse of public money.
What punishment will the scammers get
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has taken a tough stand in this matter. He has clearly said that this scheme was for the help of poor women, not for men. Now the amount taken from these men will be recovered. If they do not cooperate in the investigation, strict legal action will be taken against them. Not only will the amount taken from these people by fraud be taken back, but they can also be sentenced to jail on charges of fraud. Cheating is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code, punishable with both fine and imprisonment.