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Supriya Sule alleges ‘₹4,800-crore scam' in Ladki Bahin Yojana

The Hindu

3 hours ago

Politics
The Hindu

Supriya Sule alleges ‘₹4,800-crore scam' in Ladki Bahin Yojana

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) accused the Maharashtra government of committing a '₹4,800-crore scam' in the Mukhyamantri Maajhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged irregularities. Her allegations come two days after the Maharashtra government announced a temporary suspension of ₹1,500 monthly aid to 26.34 lakh beneficiaries following a verification drive that reportedly revealed the presence of thousands of ineligible beneficiaries, including 14,000 men, on the list. State Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare had said that the eligibility of the suspended beneficiaries would be verified by their respective District Collectors. Ms. Sule questioned the process through which the government had verified and identified the beneficiaries. 'The government rejects, on the smallest of pretexts, applications of people trying to access health, education, and crop insurance schemes. How did the system allow men to receive cash payments through direct benefit transfers?' she said. Pinning the blame regarding the 'irregularities' on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, the Baramati MP said, 'Men must take the responsibility. I won't accuse Tatkare as the decision was passed by the State Cabinet unanimously.' The Ladki Bahin scheme was launched in August 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election held later that year in November. The scheme was considered one of the reasons for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's victory in the poll. However, after the election, the government started a scrutiny of the beneficiaries to weed out illegal beneficiaries. 'If the matter is not investigated, then we will raise the demand for a probe in Parliament,' the NCP (SP) leader told mediapersonsin New Delhi.

Supriya Sule Alleges Rs 4,800 Crore Fraud In Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Scheme

NDTV

12 hours ago

Politics
NDTV

Supriya Sule Alleges Rs 4,800 Crore Fraud In Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin Scheme

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule has accused the Maharashtra government of a Rs 4,800 crore fraud in its flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin welfare scheme and demanded a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Reports suggest over 14,000 male beneficiaries wrongly availed benefits from a scheme intended solely for economically weaker women, Ms Sule told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday, questioning how verification failures went unnoticed despite Aadhaar and bank details being mandatory to apply for the scheme. "An SIT probe must be initiated," she demanded, calling on the state government to produce a white paper, conduct a full audit, and ensure a transparent investigation of the alleged scam. Ms Sule said the scheme reportedly enrolled 2.38 crore women, of which 26 lakh (about 10%) were declared ineligible after the state Assembly elections. Yet, male applicants were not filtered out during this initial processing. "How did money meant for sisters land in men's accounts?" she asked, rejecting any laxity in the digital system used for registrations. She also drew contrasts with other welfare processes, stating, "Student forms were rejected for a few low marks, multiple checks are in place. Then how did this system fail in the Ladki Bahin scheme?" Ms Sule also accused the state government of failing to uphold even the sanctity of familial bonds, claiming that the sister-brother relationship was betrayed in the flawed execution of the scheme. She also made clear that she would not single out Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare or any specific minister, but insisted that those accountable for implementing the scheme, including the Cabinet and Deputy Chief Minister, take responsibility for the alleged scandal. "If the government fails to respond adequately, I will raise the issue in Parliament and press the centre to demand an inquiry," she said. The issue has given a political momentum to the Opposition in the state. With allegations from leaders like Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut, pressure is building for greater accountability from the ruling Mahayuti coalition. The state government has already suspended benefits for around 26.34 lakh allegedly ineligible beneficiaries, including men and government employees, after cross-checks revealed misuse. Funds will be recovered from any male beneficiaries found to have unlawfully benefited, the government has said.

In Mahayuti's poll-winning Ladki Bahin scheme, 14,000 of 26 lakh bogus beneficiaries found to be men

The Print

a day ago

Politics
The Print

In Mahayuti's poll-winning Ladki Bahin scheme, 14,000 of 26 lakh bogus beneficiaries found to be men

Among those who wrongfully benefited under the Ladki Bahin scheme are beneficiaries of other schemes, as well as those who have been filing their income tax returns. The state government has also suspended the June instalment to the accounts. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has admitted that the stipend given under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana has wrongfully been credited into the accounts of 26.34 lakh bogus beneficiaries. Among them, over 14,000 are men who have wrongfully benefited from the scheme, the women & child development department sources have confirmed to ThePrint. On Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also admitted the mistake. 'According to the department, 26 lakh such accounts have been found that do not fit the bill of the Ladki Bahin scheme. These accounts have not been rejected yet, but instalments are suspended now. After another scrutiny, if we see what we found is true, we will suspend the accounts,' Fadnavis told reporters in Wardha. Earlier on Sunday, Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare released a statement on the bogus accounts. 'Some of the beneficiaries are availing of multiple government schemes. In other cases, more than two members of the same family are receiving benefits [under the Ladki Bahin scheme]. Shockingly, there are also instances where male applicants received funds under the scheme,' said Tatkare, adding that the June 2025 instalment was suspended for 26.34 lakh bank accounts based on the information. According to the state government, despite the suspensions, 2.5 crore eligible women had received the monthly stipend, Rs 1,500, for June. Launched last year ahead of Raksha Bandhan, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is a Rs 1,500 monthly stipend, promoted as a 'gift from a brother to the sisters in the state'. After the launch, millions of lower-income women across Maharashtra stood in long queues to apply for direct benefit transfer under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. The scheme eventually helped the Mahayuti to win a historic mandate in the assembly elections last November. However, after the election, the Mahayuti government, a coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, has tightened scrutiny of the beneficiaries of the scheme after finding out that many women, who do not meet the eligibility criteria, are on the list. The scheme's criteria are clear. Women whose family income is over Rs 2.5 lakh—or if anyone in their family is paying income tax—as well as family members of those working with the government, or drawing a pension after their retirement, are not eligible. Just ahead of the assembly elections, the number of beneficiaries was 2.63 crore. However, during the ongoing scrutiny, the number dropped to 2.52 crore by February and 2.47 crore by May this year. The scrutiny has been finding those who own four-wheelers, hold government jobs, or are beneficiaries of other schemes have been receiving money under the Ladki Bahin scheme. Now, the government has fixed the number of ineligible people at 26.34 lakh and revealed that men also feature in the list. Every month, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana costs the exchequer Rs 3,000-4,000 crore, said the government sources. On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar vowed action against the bogus beneficiaries. 'Ladki Bahin scheme was launched to help poor women. There is no reason why men should be its beneficiaries. We will recover the money given out to them. If they do not cooperate, there will be further action,' Pawar told reporters. 'Some women employed with the government also became beneficiaries, but we have removed their names. As we continue to review the working of the scheme, we will keep removing such names,' he added. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: Rakhi gift before polls, now strain on coffers, how Mahayuti's Ladki Bahin scheme has undergone a squeeze

Mushrif blames Ladki Bahin for delay in rolling out farm loan waiver

Hindustan Times

2 days ago

Politics
Hindustan Times

Mushrif blames Ladki Bahin for delay in rolling out farm loan waiver

Mumbai: Maharashtra medical education minister Hasan Mushrif on Sunday blamed the Ladki Bahin scheme for delay in announcing the farm loan waiver promised by ruling Mahayuti alliance in its manifesto for the assembly poll held last year. Hasan Mushrif, medical education minister (Hindustan Times) 'We had promised to waive crop loans taken by farmers but the state government is spending ₹46,000 crore a year on our Ladki Bahin (scheme),' Mushrif said while addressing a public meeting in Kolhapur on Sunday. Under the scheme, introduced in July last year ahead of the assembly poll, nearly 24.6 million women from low-income families are paid a monthly dole of ₹1,500. The state government spends around ₹3,800 crore per month on the scheme, which has affected expenditure on other welfare programmes and compelled several ministers to speak out against its impact on the state exchequer. 'Despite the financial constraints, the government has introduced several measures to help the farming community,' Mushrif told the gathering. 'I have a different point of view on farm loan waivers,' he went on to say. As soon as the government promises a waiver, farmers stop repaying loans, putting banks in trouble. The government should instead double grants given to farmers who honestly repay their loans to help them emerge from crises, he said. On July 13, Mushrif's colleague in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and sports and youth welfare minister Datta Bharne had said that funds were delayed because of the Ladki Bahin scheme. Chhagan Bhujbal, another NCP leader and minister, too had raised the issue, saying the scheme had placed immense financial strain on the exchequer. Before them, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat had objected to the diversion of ₹410 crore to the scheme from the social justice department. The Ladki Bahin scheme was credited as a major reason behind the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's landslide win in the 2024 assembly elections. However, with an estimated revenue deficit of ₹45,892 crore in the financial year 2025-26, the government is now finding it difficult to make budgetary allocations for various other populist schemes announced ahead of the assembly elections. Consequently, it has postponed implementing its poll promise to increase the monthly allowance under the scheme from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100. 'If I were CM' Eyebrows were raised in political corridors on Sunday when Mushrif said that he would double the grants given to farmers who repaid loans on time if he became the chief minister some day. 'By God's grace, if at all I become the chief minister some day, I will double the grant to farmers who are honestly repaying loans. If they are getting a sum of ₹50,000 I will increase the amount to ₹1 lakh. This will help build a habit of repayment of loans among farmers,' he told the gathering at Kolhapur. The reference to chances of him becoming chief minister caused an uproar as his political boss and NCP chief Ajit Pawar has had the same desire for a long time.

14,000 men receive payout under Ladki Bahin scheme, Ajit Pawar vows action

India Today