Mumbai

Nearly 80 lakh women have been excluded from Maharashtra’s Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme following the completion of the e-KYC verification process, triggering criticism from opposition parties, which have accused the state government of trimming beneficiaries due to financial constraints.

Government officials, however, rejected the allegation and clarified that the reduction in numbers resulted from a combination of incomplete e-KYC submissions and failure to meet eligibility requirements.

According to a senior official, the total number of beneficiaries has fallen from approximately 2.4 crore to around 1.7 crore after the April 30 deadline for e-KYC compliance. Beneficiaries were given eight months to complete the verification process.

The official said that nearly 50 to 55 lakh women did not complete the e-KYC formalities despite repeated opportunities. During the verification exercise, authorities also identified around 12 lakh beneficiaries who were income-tax payers and therefore exceeded the scheme’s annual income limit of Rs 2.5 lakh. In addition, more than 4.5 lakh women were found to be above the maximum eligible age of 65 years.

Another five lakh beneficiaries were already receiving assistance under the Namo Shetkari scheme, making them ineligible under the Ladki Bahin programme. Officials also noted that two to three lakh applicants corrected discrepancies in their records during the verification period.

Responding to concerns from women who claimed they missed monthly payments despite completing e-KYC, the official said that complaints were being examined and verified. He added that the final number of eligible beneficiaries would become clear within a week.

The official further stressed that it was incorrect to claim that all 80 lakh women were removed solely because of incomplete e-KYC procedures.

Opposition leaders, however, have strongly criticised the development. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil alleged that the large-scale reduction in beneficiaries reflected the state government's worsening financial condition.

Patil argued that the scheme, which provides eligible women with Rs 1,500 per month, was introduced ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections after the ruling alliance faced setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls. He claimed that removing such a large number of beneficiaries amounted to withdrawing support from women who had been promised financial assistance.

He further contended that both the central and state governments were facing financial pressures, compounded by a widening fiscal deficit and the impact of a global economic slowdown.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar also questioned the government's intentions, alleging that the authorities were gradually reducing the number of beneficiaries with the eventual goal of discontinuing the scheme.

Pawar claimed that while the programme initially covered around 2.47 crore women before the Assembly elections, nearly 81 lakh names had now been removed. He argued that e-KYC was being used as a justification and questioned why proper verification procedures had not been carried out before the scheme was launched.

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He also cautioned the government against any attempt to recover funds from beneficiaries or create difficulties for women who had already received assistance, warning that such actions would face strong opposition.