Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Yojana Hit by Scam: Over 14,000 Men Illegally Benefited from Women-Centric Scheme
A major scandal has emerged in Maharashtra’s women-focused welfare scheme, Ladki Bahin Yojana, as an official review revealed that over 14,000 men fraudulently availed benefits meant exclusively for economically disadvantaged women. The scheme, launched in August 2024, aimed to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to women aged between 21 and 65 years, especially those from low-income households. However, the misuse of the program has now raised serious concerns over the state’s welfare administration and verification processes.
According to a report by CNN-News18, a total of 14,298 male beneficiaries were found to have wrongfully received funds under the scheme. These individuals managed to falsely register themselves as women in government records and collectively pocketed an estimated ₹21.44 crore from the state treasury.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana was initially introduced during the tenure of Eknath Shinde and has continued under the current Mahayuti alliance government led by Devendra Fadnavis. The scheme’s purpose was to empower women financially by providing direct monthly transfers, ensuring improved livelihood and dignity. But instead of empowering the rightful beneficiaries, loopholes in the verification system were exploited to siphon off public funds.
The Women and Child Development Department, which oversees the Ladki Bahin Yojana, has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. However, internal inquiries have already begun to trace how the breach occurred. Investigators are currently trying to identify:
How ineligible applicants entered the beneficiary list
Who approved these applications
Where the verification mechanism failed
Initial findings suggest that false documentation and identity misrepresentation were used to pass off male applicants as women. This points to either severe negligence or deliberate collusion at the administrative level.
The Maharashtra government is reportedly planning to initiate disciplinary action against the officials found responsible for the lapses. Additionally, efforts are expected to be made to recover the misused funds from those who fraudulently received payments. This incident not only exposes systemic flaws but also erodes public trust in welfare schemes designed to assist vulnerable sections of society.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Maharashtra’s welfare programs have come under scrutiny. Past audits have flagged irregularities in other schemes as well, including:
Sanitary Napkin Subsidy Scheme
Shiv Bhojan Thali Scheme
Both programs, intended to support health and nutrition, had earlier reported discrepancies in beneficiary selection and fund allocation. The current scandal only adds to the state’s growing list of welfare implementation failures.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana was envisioned as a tool of economic empowerment for women, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. However, the exploitation of the scheme by ineligible individuals, due to administrative loopholes and weak vetting mechanisms, has compromised its integrity.
This scam not only highlights the need for technologically enhanced verification processes, such as Aadhaar-linked biometric checks and real-time audits, but also raises the broader question: Are our welfare systems truly secure and inclusive, or are they vulnerable to manipulation?
As the probe continues, citizens await transparency and accountability. The government must act swiftly to restore faith in its welfare delivery systems and ensure that benefits reach only those who genuinely need them. If reforms are not implemented urgently, such instances of misuse could severely undermine future welfare initiatives and deprive the deserving of essential support.
