Over 14,000 Men Got Benefits in Maharashtra Women’s Scheme
Maharashtra authorities have discovered that over 14,000 men fraudulently received benefits meant for women under the state-run Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. These men each received ₹1,500 per month, adding up to approximately ₹21.44 crore over a span of ten months. The scheme, launched in August 2024, aims to support women aged 21 to 65 from low-income families earning under ₹2.5 lakh annually.
What Was Discovered
A state audit revealed that 14,298 men were registered as beneficiaries using false or misrepresented identities. In many cases, these applicants listed themselves as female or manipulated documentation to bypass eligibility criteria. The misuse was detected during routine checks, prompting immediate suspension of payments to these irregular beneficiaries.
Additional Misuse Uncovered
Further verification revealed that over 2.36 lakh entries may involve male registrants posing with female names. The government is conducting detailed scrutiny of documents and beneficiary records to assess the full scale of the fraud.
In a related issue, more than 2,800 women above age 65—who are ineligible under the scheme—were found receiving benefits. These beneficiaries collectively received funds exceeding ₹430 crore; corrective action is underway to remove them from the program.
Steps Taken by the Government
Authorities have already halted payments to identified ineligible beneficiaries and launched a probe into how these men were approved. Disciplinary action is expected for officials responsible for verification failures. Work is also underway to recover misallocated funds.
The state is now cross-checking beneficiary data against income tax records and identity databases. Income tax information can now be accessed by the Women & Child Development Department to ensure that only eligible women receive funds.
Why It Matters
The fraud exposes major flaws in the scheme’s verification process and raises broader concerns about oversight in welfare distribution. The scheme was designed to uplift financially weaker women, but its integrity has been compromised.
Moving Forward
Officials say the scheme will be restructured with stricter identity checks, digital audits, and more transparent procedures. Ensuring that welfare reaches only deserving women is now the top priority. Authorities hope that improved accountability will restore faith in public social support programs.
