Maharashtra's WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare suspends over 26 lakh Ineligible Beneficiaries

By: WE Staff | Monday, 28 July 2025

• 14,298 Men and 26.3 Lakh Ineligible Women Received Stipend Meant for Underprivileged Women
• Maharashtra WCD Minister Flags Rs 21.4 Cr Loss in Majhi Ladki Bahin Scheme
• Benefits Suspended for Over 26 Lakh Ineligible Recipients

Maharashtra's Women and Child Welfare Minister, Aditi Tatkare, has revealed that 26.3 lakh ineligible women received the stipend for underprivileged women under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. The ineligible beneficiaries have been suspended since June 2025. The revelation comes after 14,298 men fraudulently received the Rs 1,500 per month stipend, causing a loss of Rs 21.4 crore to the state exchequer. The government is now verifying eligibility and may pursue legal action.

WCD Minister Aditi mentioned on her X, "The department undertook a scrutiny of the scheme by seeking information from all government departments. The IT department reported that approximately 26.3 lakh beneficiaries availed of the benefits despite being ineligible." She adds, "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 applied for the scheme."

The benefits of 26.3 lakh ineligible beneficiaries have been temporarily suspended, while 2.2 crore eligible applicants received the stipend for June. District collectors will verify information about the suspended beneficiaries, and those found eligible will be resumed. She says, "Regarding the action to be taken against fraudulent beneficiaries who misled the government and availed benefits through improper means, a suitable decision will be taken at the government level."

The Ladki Bahin scheme, providing a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21-65 with a family income below Rs 2.5 lakh, was scrutinized by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in December 2024. By February 2025, 5 lakh ineligible beneficiaries were removed, including those over 65 and beneficiaries under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana. The scheme's stipend was reduced to 8 lakh beneficiaries in April due to overlap with another government scheme, Namo Shetkari Mahasanmman Nidhi.