81 Lakh Women Dropped From Ladki Bahin Scheme After e-KYC, Says Minister; Oppn Alleges Poll Gimmick

Mumbai – Around 81 lakh women have been removed from the Maharashtra government’s Ladki Bahin Yojana following a state-wide e-KYC drive, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said on Monday. Opposition parties hit back, calling the move an “election gimmick” and alleging financial irregularities.

Govt: e-KYC done to weed out ineligible names

Tatkare said the verification was mandatory to remove those not eligible under the scheme’s rules, including income-tax payers and families of government employees.

“When the scheme was launched, 2.63 crore women had registered. 2.47 crore became beneficiaries and received monthly aid. After e-KYC, the number came down to 1.67-1.7 crore,” she told reporters.

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was announced on June 28, 2024. It provides Rs 1,500 per month via DBT to women aged 21-65 for economic independence.

The minister gave a breakup of those removed:

• 62 lakh did not complete e-KYC despite repeated extensions till April
• 16 lakh had annual family income above Rs 2.5 lakh
• 4.42 lakh had a government employee in the family She added that even some men and government staff had registered and got benefits.

The e-KYC process began in August 2025 with a 6-month window. Tatkare said recovery of funds from ineligible government employees started 8-10 months ago and the money is being deposited in the treasury. Complaints from women who did e-KYC but stopped getting aid are also being checked.

Opposition: “Election inducement, now cut off”

Opposition parties alleged the scheme was launched before the 2024 assembly polls to woo women voters.

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal claimed Rs 29,693 crore was allocated but Rs 3,541 crore more was spent “without any record.”

“Is this a government or a gang of robbers?” he asked. He also said spending on women welfare jumped from Rs 261.78 cr to Rs 33,554 cr in 2024-25, while housing and water supply budgets fell.

Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad said: “You called them ‘beloved sisters’ before elections, now you declare them ineligible. If they were ineligible, why pay them till now? If eligible, why remove them now?”

NCP (SP) spokesperson Ravikant Varpe posted on X: “Beneficiaries fell from 2.4 crore. Nearly 38% women shown the exit door. Was this welfare or an election gimmick?”

MNS spokesperson Anil Shidore called it “disturbing” and cited CAG’s note on excess expenditure of Rs 3,541 crore. “The scheme was announced in June 2024, 2 instalments paid in August, and elections followed. Citizens can draw their own conclusions,” he said on X.

The government maintains the cuts were needed to ensure only eligible women continue to get benefits under Ladki Bahin.