Tensions Rise as Maharashtra's 'Ladki Bahin' Scheme Sees Massive Beneficiary Cuts
Supriya Sule from NCP (SP) accused the Maharashtra Government for removing nearly 80 lakh names from the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme intended for women. The move was seen as politically motivated, and she questioned the government's competence in managing taxpayer funds.
Highlights
- •Supriya Sule, senior NCP (SP) leader, slammed the Maharashtra Government over removing 80 lakh beneficiaries from the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme
- •The removal was accused of being politically motivated and exposing gross incompetence
- •Over 12,000 men and tens of thousands of women were falsely receiving Rs 1,500 monthly stipend
- •Every eligible woman in Maharashtra must continue to receive regular benefits under the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme
Mumbai: In a significant setback to the Maharashtra government, Supriya Sule, a senior NCP (SP) leader, has heavily criticized its handling of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. The scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to women, has seen approximately 80 lakh beneficiaries declared ineligible due to alleged irregularities.
Government's Response and Criticism
The removal of nearly 80 lakh names from the beneficiary list under the Ladki Bahin (Beloved Sister) scheme has generated widespread concern. Sule, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Baramati, alleged that the disqualification process was politically motivated, driven by the government's electoral interests rather than genuine needs.
Sule stated,: "Driven solely by the prospect of electoral gain, they engaged in the practice of dangling false lures before women. This is a collective disastrous failure of this government in political, administrative and implementation aspects." Highlighting that the scheme utilizes taxpayer funds, Sule questioned why thorough verification was not carried out prior to enrollment during an election period.
"The hasty implementation of the Ladki Bahin scheme without proper verification raises the serious question: Has this government been distributing public funds to ineligible beneficiaries for over a year? Fundamentally, it exposes the government's gross incompetence," Sule asserted.
The removal of 80 lakh women from the beneficiary list was met with skepticism due to its timing and method. According to Sule, every eligible woman in Maharashtra must be supported regularly under this scheme; hence, the requirement for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification should remain accessible at all times.
Previous Allegations of Scam
Sule had previously accused a Rs 4,800-crore scam within the scheme. Data revealed that thousands of ineligible individuals, including over 12,000 men and tens of thousands of women, were wrongly receiving Rs 1,500 monthly stipend, further fueling public distrust.
These developments pose a major challenge to the government's credibility and highlight potential systemic issues within public distribution schemes in Maharashtra. By maintaining its commitment to transparency and accountability, the state administration must reassure citizens of fair treatment under such vital programs.
