The Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister, Aditi Tatkare, affirmed that approximately 15 lakh applicants were identified as ineligible through a comprehensive verification process for the Ladki Bahin Yojana. This statement came in response to circulating reports alleging that a vast number of eligible beneficiaries had been unjustly removed from the programme. Tatkare emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that deserving women are not excluded from receiving benefits.

In her comments, she sought to clarify misunderstandings related to the alleged removal of over 90 lakh beneficiaries, asserting that the exercise was primarily aimed at identifying individuals not meeting the scheme’s eligibility criteria. The Ladli Behna Yojana is designed to provide women with a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500.

Details of the Verification Process

The verification process entails a mandatory e-KYC (Know Your Customer) verification that commenced in August 2025, with extended deadlines running into December 2025. Beneficiaries were allocated additional time until April 2026 to rectify any documentation discrepancies. Tatkare reassured that the government is diligently cross-checking all records to uphold the rights of eligible women.

As of now, it is reported that around 8 lakh women have yet to complete their e-KYC verification, while the process has revealed that about 14 to 15 lakh applicants are ineligible due to family members being income tax payers or owning vehicles. These factors constitute a breach of the scheme’s eligibility requirements.

Minister Tatkare specifically refuted claims that 28 lakh disqualifications had occurred within Beed district. She clarified that the entire population of Beed is estimated to be between 30 to 32 lakh, with only around 6.5 lakh registrations for the scheme, of which 4 to 4.5 lakh women are eligible and actively receiving assistance.

Ongoing Commitment to Eligible Beneficiaries

The minister acknowledged that there were challenges during the initial phases of the verification, given the unprecedented scale of the undertaking. However, she noted that the system has since been refined, allowing eligible beneficiaries to receive their financial assistance consistently and without disruption. Furthermore, individual complaints from women who have successfully completed their e-KYC but continue to face issues are being assessed carefully.

As part of the ongoing efforts to enhance the integrity of the programme, the state has begun recovering funds from those deemed ineligible. Initiatives are underway to recover funds from government employees who improperly availed benefits and from men who allegedly claimed financial support under the identities of women. This initiative follows a recent transfer of Rs 1,835 crore as the 38th instalment of the scheme to over 1.25 crore beneficiaries, reaffirming the government’s dedication to women’s empowerment as aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

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