Election won, the government will scrutinize the “sisters” who received help from Ladki Bahin

Mumbai: Following the formation of the new government in Maharashtra, the state bureaucracy plans to launch a comprehensive review of the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, an ambitious scheme designed to empower eligible women across the state. With over 2 million women already benefiting from the scheme which cost Rs 33,000 million, the government is now working to ensure that the aid reaches only deserving beneficiaries. The verification process aims to eliminate unmerited claims and ensure transparency in the distribution of financial aid. Every woman who has received benefits under this program will undergo this detailed verification process, aimed at weeding out fraudulent claims and ensuring transparency in the distribution of financial assistance.

According to sources in the state finance department, the review will include almost all applicants who have already received aid and will be subject to this extensive review. The process will involve cross-checking submitted documents with official documents to identify any inconsistencies or fraudulent activity, thereby ensuring that the program only benefits those who actually meet the eligibility criteria and receive the financial assistance.

All applications will be considered based on the following key eligibility conditions for the “Ladki Bahin Yojana” to ensure equitable distribution of assistance:

# Proof of income: – Applicants will have to submit documents proving their annual family income, with a limit set at Rs 2.5 lakh per year.

# Income Tax Certificates:- These will be scrutinized to validate the legitimacy of the beneficiaries.

# Retirement pension and vehicle ownership: – Applicants receiving a pension or owning four-wheeled vehicles will be subject to further scrutiny.

# Land ownership: – Women owning more than five acres of land will not be eligible for this scheme.

# Limit of beneficiaries per family: – Only two women per family will be able to benefit from it, which will solve the problem of multiple claims within the same household.

To ensure the process is accurate and transparent, all applicants who have already received benefits will go through several stages of verification. The review process will include several key steps:-

# Cross-checking of documentation:- The first phase involves verifying the identity proofs, income details and other related documents submitted by the candidates.

# Ground Verification:- Officers will visit beneficiaries’ homes for direct verification. This may include personal interviews or door-to-door surveys to confirm eligibility.

# Data matching:- The government will compare beneficiaries’ data with other official databases such as electoral rolls, tax records or Aadhaar-linked data to identify inconsistencies.

# Complaints and denunciation: – The government will encourage citizens to report suspected fraudulent activity via a hotline, online portal or through field agents.

# Involvement of local leaders: – Local elected officials, such as panchayat heads or representatives of urban bodies, can also participate to ensure transparency in the verification process.

According to sources, the process will involve several departments, including state and local government officials, social welfare teams and auditing agencies.

# State/Local Government Officials:- Local authorities, including district or block level officers, will be responsible for verifying beneficiaries in their respective areas.

# Social Protection Departments: – The department responsible for women welfare or social justice will lead the review at the state level.

# Audit and investigation teams: – Internal auditors and teams from the Ministry of Finance or other auditing bodies will be responsible for ensuring that funds are not misused and that beneficiary lists are accurate.

The monitoring process aims to ensure that benefits go only to those who truly deserve them and to maintain the integrity of the government’s social protection programs.

According to sources, even after the new government is formed, no financial assistance will be released until each application successfully passes the required review and approval process. Currently, Ladki Bahin Yojana beneficiaries are not receiving funds. Funds for the October and November payments have already been distributed to most recipients under the program. According to official sources, the December installment will be released only after the review process is completed. Official sources indicate that the monitoring process will only begin after the formation of the government.

The Central Election Commission had stopped all financial plans following the announcement of the schedule for the assembly elections in Maharashtra. The Election Commission has directed the state government to stop implementing projects that could directly influence voters during the model code of conduct period. As a result, funds for this program, managed by the Department of Women and Child Welfare, were suspended.

Currently, although the elections are over, the government has not yet been formed, leading to further delays in program resumption and disbursement of installments.

The main objective of the next government formed is that the control will identify and eliminate fraudulent beneficiaries. As a result, corrective action could include cancellation of benefits and possible legal action. Officials predict that as the review process unfolds, the number of recipients could decline significantly, possibly affecting more than 2 million women who have already received assistance.

Amid increasing complaints of fraudulent claims under the ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, the Maharashtra government will announce plans to launch a thorough review process of the project. According to reliable sources within the state financial department, several complaints have highlighted discrepancies in the eligibility of certain beneficiaries. These include cases of falsified documents, undisclosed assets and ineligible people receiving aid. The next verification process aims to identify and eliminate these fraudulent claims while maintaining transparency in the system.

During the election period, the project was criticized by the opposition, who suggested that the timing of the initiative could have been politically motivated. However, government officials have defended the project, emphasizing that it is part of a broader effort to empower women and reduce economic disparities. This would further reduce the burden on the public purse.