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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Maharashtra uses tax data to check fake claims in Ladki Bahin scheme
Maharashtra has tightened the verification process for Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme offering Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women, after concerns about fake beneficiaries and fraud. The Income-Tax Department will share data with the Maharashtra Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, following a government notification issued on June 3 by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Income Tax data to be shared with the state According to the Union Finance Ministry notification, the Secretary of Maharashtra's WCD Department has been authorised to receive Income Tax data under Section 138 of the Income-tax Act, 1961. The goal is to help identify and cross-check beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. This marks a rare instance of central-state data sharing in a welfare program, aimed at ensuring that only truly eligible women receive the financial benefit. Why Government is cracking down? Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar recently acknowledged that the initial rollout of the Ladki Bahin Yojana lacked proper eligibility checks. Speaking on June 2, he said, "It was a mistake on our part to give benefits to all women without sufficient verification. At the time, we were short on time as elections were approaching in 2–3 months." The scheme, which was launched in August 2024, was meant to empower economically weaker women, but audits later found that thousands of ineligible beneficiaries had enrolled, including 2,289 government employees. Pawar clarified that the government will not recover funds already disbursed but will tighten checks going forward. What Is Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana? It is a financial assistance scheme aimed at empowering women from low-income families across the state. Who is eligible for Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana The Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana is targeted at economically weaker women in the state. According to the official criteria: Applicants must be permanent residents of Maharashtra Women aged 21 to 60 are eligible Annual family income must be less than Rs 2.5 lakh Beneficiaries should not be taxpayers or filing income tax returns Any mismatch in income or tax data will likely result in rejection of benefits received. What should beneficiaries do Women who have already applied or are receiving the Rs 1,500 aid should ensure that their income records are accurate and up to date. Any attempt to conceal income or manipulate eligibility could attract penalties or recovery notices from the government.
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Indian Express
Maharashtra ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme: Over 2,289 women govt employees availed benefits illegally
The Maharashtra Women and Child Development (WCD) Department has identified 2,289 women state government employees who enrolled for the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme and illegally availed its benefits despite being ineligible, WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare said on Friday. According to official sources, the total amount availed illegally by the women is estimated at around Rs 3 crore and the state government is likely to recover the money from them. 'Verification of beneficiaries is a standard and ongoing process in the implementation of any scheme, and it is being strictly followed in the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme. During verification conducted around January–February, we found that 2,289 government employees had enrolled for the scheme. Since then, no benefits have been distributed to these employees. We remain committed to ensuring that the scheme benefits only the rightful beneficiaries, and this verification process will continue on a regular basis,' Tatkare said. The revelation came after the WCD department launched a comprehensive verification process of beneficiary applications in recent months. The General Administration Department (GAD) collaborated by sharing data of state government employees with the Information Technology Department for cross-verification. During this exercise, data from around two lakh applications was scrutinised via the Sevaarth system. As per the scheme's eligibility criteria, government employees are explicitly barred from receiving benefits. However, verification revealed that 2,289 women government employees had not only registered but also received financial assistance under the scheme. Launched in July 2024, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana aims to empower women by providing Rs 1,500 per month to eligible beneficiaries. The scheme is intended for women whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.
