Latest news with #LadkiBahin
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ensure no irregularities in 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme, else it will be shut: Bhujbal to officials
Mumbai, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday said there were complaints of irregularities in the implementation of the 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme, and if the issues persist, it will have to be shut down. Ensure no irregularities in 'Shiv Bhojan' scheme, else it will be shut: Bhujbal to officials The Shiv Bhojan thali scheme was launched by the previous Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government in 2020 for providing food at discounted rates to the poor and needy people and continued by the successive Mahayuti governments. Talking to reporters, Bhujbal noted two lakh persons benefit from the Shiv Bhojan thalis everyday. "Some centres don't give the requisite 100 thalis and some don't give at all. I have asked the officials to ensure there are no irregularities, else the scheme will have to be shut down. But as of now, it will continue," he said. Bhujbal's comments come against the backdrop of Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare admitting that nearly 26.34 lakh ineligible persons were availing benefits of the government's flagship Ladki Bahin scheme for providing a monthly assistance of ₹1,500 to women. "It has been found that some beneficiaries were availing benefits of multiple schemes, some families had more than two beneficiaries, and in some cases, men had applied for the scheme," Tatkare said in a post on X on July 26. "Based on this information, starting from June 2025, the benefits for these 26.34 lakh applicants have been temporarily suspended. Additionally, approximately 2.25 crore eligible beneficiaries of the scheme have been disbursed the honorarium for the month of June 2025," she said. The information of the 26.34 lakh beneficiaries whose benefits have been temporarily suspended will be verified by the respective district collectors, and the benefits for those found eligible will be resumed by the government, the minister had said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Wait for verified Ladki Bahin figures, says Tatkare
MUMBAI: State women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare is scrambling to contain the damage caused by a government report, which revealed that 26.34 lakh individuals enrolled under the flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana were ineligible for the scheme's monthly payout. Wait for verified Ladki Bahin figures, says Tatkare Tatkare told the media after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that her department, which implements the scheme, would get details of these beneficiaries cross-verified before confirming exactly how many were ineligible. 'After verification from the district collectors' office, some of these 26.34 lakh beneficiaries may turn eligible,' the minister said. She went on to say, 'We have started scrutiny to ensure the Ladki Bahin scheme is not misused. The women and child development department has also sought reports from the income tax department, transport department and food and civil supplies department on the 26.34 lakh beneficiaries in question. Only after we receive these reports will we be able to assess the actual number of ineligible beneficiaries.' Tatkare added that payments to these 26.34 lakh individuals had been stopped, and about 2.25 crore beneficiaries were eligible as of now. Controversy broke out last week, when a report from the state information and technology department revealed that 26.34 lakh individuals who had been receiving the ₹1,500 monthly payout were not eligible for the direct cash benefit. The report also revealed that 14,298 men had enrolled under the scheme, meant exclusively for women from lower socio-economic groups. They had been receiving the direct cash benefit for ten months. Tatkare, in damage-control mode said on Tuesday, 'During the verification process, administrative officials will check the 14,298 male beneficiaries. Some of these men probably enrolled under the scheme and uploaded their own identity documents as their wives did not have bank accounts. We are cross-checking, which is a very important step,' the minister said. Last week's report on ineligible beneficiaries revealed another damaging detail – that women class three and four government employees too had been receiving the monthly payout. State chief secretary Rajesh Kumar has since directed all government departments to recover the money from these employees and also take disciplinary action against them. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) MP Supritya Sule slammed the Mahayuti government, saying that the 26.34 lakh ineligible beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which earned the Mahayuti alliance critical electoral gains last year, entailed a 'fraud' of ₹4,800 crore. She also demanded an investigation, saying it was a colossal waste of taxpayers' money. Responding to Sule, Tatkare said the opposition's allegation is based on media reports. Details of the ineligible beneficiaries are being verified, said Tatkare.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kokate gets off with rebuke from Ajit; CM warns all mins
Mumbai: NCP minister Manikrao Kokate, who has repeatedly courted controversy with his remarks and recently drew criticism for allegedly playing a game of 'rummy' on his mobile phone in the state legislature, was let off by his party chief and deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Tuesday with a warning and censure. At the same time, CM Devendra Fadnavis spoke to all the ministers at and after Tuesday's meeting of the state cabinet and warned them against controversial actions and words, sources said. Kokate had a 25-minute conversation with Ajit Pawar in the latter's chamber in Mantralaya before Tuesday's cabinet meeting, where he apologised for the 'rummy' incident and assured the party chief that such things would not happen again. Ajit Pawar is also said to have given him a dressing down over his repeated controversial statements and warned him that any such statements would not be tolerated. However, Kokate was not asked to resign, nor has his agriculture portfolio been swapped, though the Dy CM had said he would meet Kokate and take a decision about his resignation. The CM emphasised at the cabinet meet that controversial episodes were impacting the image of the govt. He also told the ministers to avoid speaking to the media and, if a controversy erupted, to give an appropriate response immediately. "The CM also said that if this continues, he will have to step in. He asked everyone to take collective responsibility and be humble. He also said fund transfers for schemes like Ladki Bahin and for priority projects are common and must not be turned into an issue by ministers. He asked ministers to work as a team and not just focus on their own departments," a cabinet minister said. Sources said that in the cabinet meet, Ajit Pawar was of the view that action could be taken against NCP ministers only if action was taken against some Shiv Sena ministers who had attracted controversy. Several ministers also backed Kokate and said he must be given a chance. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who first released Kokate's video showing him allegedly playing rummy, said BJP and Dy CM Eknath Shinde would damage Ajit Pawar.
The Hindu
2 days 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.
NDTV
3 days 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.
