Maharashtra scheme financial lapses

The Comptroller and Auditor General has flagged major financial-management lapses in Maharashtra’s Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, including unexplained excess expenditure of ₹3,541 crore and the parking of ₹15,586 crore in government deposit accounts. CAG Flags Ladki Bahin Scheme Overspending The Maharashtra government provided ₹26,200 crore for the scheme through supplementary budget demands during 2024-25. A further ₹3,490.75 crore was reallocated from the Lek Ladki Yojana, taking the total available grant to ₹29,693.09 crore. However, the Women and Child Development Department recorded expenditure of ₹33,237.24 crore, exceeding the approved allocation by ₹3,541.16 crore. The audit said the department did not provide any specific justification for the excess spending. ₹15,586 Crore Parked in Deposit Accounts The audit also examined large payment vouchers connected to the scheme and found that ₹15,586 crore drawn between January and March 2025 had been transferred to Virtual Personal Deposit Accounts. These accounts are used by government departments to temporarily hold funds before expenditure. The CAG observed that transferring such a large amount into deposit accounts indicated that the money was not required for immediate beneficiary payments when it was withdrawn. CAG Seeks Better Financial Planning The audit described the scheme’s implementation as having significant deficiencies in budget estimation, expenditure control and financial management. It said funds should be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund only when required for immediate expenditure, rather than being parked in departmental accounts. The CAG recommended more realistic estimates of beneficiary numbers and funding requirements for major direct-benefit-transfer schemes. Under the Ladki Bahin scheme, eligible women aged between 21 and 65 receive monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 through direct bank transfers.

CAG Flags ₹15,586 Crore Ladki Bahin Fund Parking

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