Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana Beneficiary Count Drops From 2.5 Crore to Under 1.8 Crore After Intensive Verification Drive
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana, which had enrolled over 2.5 crore beneficiaries at launch in 2024, has seen its rolls shrink significantly following multiple rounds of verification. The current beneficiary count has fallen to under 1.8 crore, and sources indicate the state government may ultimately cap the number at 1.5 crore.
How the Numbers Fell
The verification process unfolded in stages, with each round stripping out ineligible recipients. The first phase targeted families owning four-wheelers, those using tractors for farming, and beneficiaries whose annual income exceeded the Rs 2.5 lakh eligibility threshold. After this round, the count came down to 2.4 crore.
Subsequent scrutiny of bank accounts revealed that the monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 was being deposited into accounts held by male family members — a clear violation of the scheme’s intent. Government employees were also identified among the beneficiaries and removed in later verification stages.
Beneficiaries from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities were referred to their respective departments for further checks, with authorities examining whether they were already receiving benefits under other government welfare schemes.
An intensive e-KYC drive brought the number down further — first to below two crore, then to 1.88 crore. Sources said the figure has since dropped to under 1.8 crore and is expected to decline further in the months ahead.