Maharashtra Minister Defends Removal Of 70 Lakh Ladki Bahin Beneficiaries After e-KYC Drive

The Maharashtra government has removed nearly 70 lakh beneficiaries from the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana following a verification drive. The decision came after mandatory e-KYC, Aadhaar authentication, and eligibility checks were enforced.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Meghana Bordikar provided clarification on the rationale behind the move. The development has significantly reduced the number of women receiving monthly assistance of ₹1,500.

Minister’s Statement on e-KYC Non-Compliance

Minister Meghana Bordikar stated that the government had provided multiple opportunities for beneficiaries to complete the e-KYC process. She noted that the deadline was extended by 4 to 5 months to ensure compliance.

Despite these efforts, around 70 lakh women failed to complete the process within the given timeframe. According to the minister, this indicated that many individuals did not meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme.

Government Outreach and Support Measures

The minister highlighted that awareness campaigns and support camps were organised to assist beneficiaries. These initiatives aimed to help women update their Aadhaar details and bank information.

Bordikar emphasised that repeated appeals were made urging beneficiaries to complete the verification process. She added that genuine beneficiaries who complied with requirements continue to receive payments without disruption.

Verification Findings and Policy Justification

According to officials and statements referenced by the minister, the verification exercise identified multiple discrepancies in applications. These included duplicate entries, mismatched Aadhaar data, and incorrect banking information.

Some beneficiaries were also found to be outside the prescribed income eligibility limits. Bordikar indicated that these findings justified the decision to enforce stricter verification measures.

Budget Impact and Revised Beneficiary Base

The minister’s remarks also align with changes reflected in the Maharashtra Budget for 2026–27. Allocation for the scheme was reduced by 26% to ₹26,500 crore from ₹36,000 crore in 2025–26.

The revised beneficiary estimate stands at approximately 1.53 crore women after the verification process. This adjustment reflects the government’s effort to align spending with verified and eligible beneficiaries.

Read More: Maharashtra Recovers ₹11 Crore From Ineligible Ladki Bahin Scheme Beneficiaries.

Conclusion

The removal of nearly 70 lakh beneficiaries from the Ladki Bahin scheme has been strongly defended by Minister Meghana Bordikar. She emphasised that sufficient time and support were provided for compliance with e-KYC requirements.

The verification process was positioned as a necessary step to eliminate discrepancies and ensure accurate distribution of benefits. The government continues to process instalments for March and April 2026 for verified beneficiaries under the scheme.

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