The Maharashtra government has identified nearly 92 lakh ineligible applicants during the ongoing e-KYC verification of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, prompting concerns over reports of large-scale deletions from the welfare scheme.
Addressing these concerns, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare clarified that around 1.67 crore eligible women continue to receive financial assistance under the scheme and dismissed claims that genuine beneficiaries were being removed indiscriminately.
She said the verification drive aims to ensure that public funds reach only those who meet the eligibility criteria while protecting the interests of deserving women. The Opposition, however, has questioned the government’s handling of the exercise and demanded greater transparency in the identification of ineligible beneficiaries.
Verification Drive Targets Ineligible Claims
Speaking on the verification process, Tatkare explained that the government launched the mandatory e-KYC exercise in August 2025 to strengthen the integrity of the flagship welfare programme. The deadline for completing verification was extended several times until December, with further opportunities provided until April for applicants to rectify documentation-related issues.
According to the minister, the scrutiny revealed that nearly 14–15 lakh applicants were ineligible because members of their families were income taxpayers, while another 4.5 to 5 lakh applications were linked to vehicle ownership, both of which fall outside the scheme’s prescribed eligibility norms. She also noted that around eight lakh women are yet to complete their e-KYC process.
Tatkare stressed that the government is examining complaints from women who claim they were wrongly flagged or are facing technical issues during verification. “There will be no mass deletion of genuine beneficiaries,” she said, assuring that every eligible woman who fulfils the scheme’s conditions and completes the verification process will continue receiving benefits. She added that the government remains committed to ensuring that no deserving applicant is deprived of assistance because of procedural or technical hurdles.
Scheme Faces Increased Scrutiny
The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched to provide eligible women in Maharashtra with ₹1,500 per month through direct benefit transfers, has emerged as one of the state’s largest social welfare initiatives. The scheme seeks to strengthen women’s financial independence and improve household welfare by offering regular monetary support to eligible beneficiaries.
However, as the programme expanded, concerns surfaced over duplicate registrations, fraudulent claims and applications submitted by individuals who did not meet the eligibility criteria. In response, the state government initiated a comprehensive verification drive by integrating records from departments including the Income Tax Department and Regional Transport Offices to cross-check applicants’ details.
Officials have also initiated recovery proceedings against government employees, men and other ineligible individuals who allegedly received benefits under the scheme. Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have criticised the verification exercise, arguing that inadequate communication and procedural lapses may have caused anxiety among beneficiaries. They have urged the government to publish clearer guidelines and strengthen grievance redressal mechanisms to ensure that eligible women are not excluded because of documentation errors or digital access barriers.
The government, however, maintains that the verification process is essential to eliminate misuse of public funds while safeguarding the interests of genuine beneficiaries. Officials say the exercise will ultimately improve the credibility and efficiency of the scheme by ensuring that financial assistance reaches only those it was intended to support.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Welfare programmes play a vital role in promoting financial security and social inclusion, particularly for women from economically vulnerable households. At the same time, governments have a responsibility to ensure that taxpayer-funded schemes remain transparent, accountable and free from misuse. Verification exercises such as e-KYC can strengthen public trust when they are carried out fairly, efficiently and with adequate safeguards for genuine beneficiaries.
However, digital verification should never become a barrier for those with limited access to technology, documentation or administrative support. Clear communication, accessible grievance redressal systems and timely assistance are essential to ensure that deserving women are not left behind because of procedural challenges. Striking the right balance between accountability and inclusion is key to the long-term success of welfare initiatives.
As governments increasingly rely on digital systems to deliver social benefits, how can they ensure that technology helps identify misuse without making it harder for vulnerable citizens to access the support they are entitled to?
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