In a stunning expose that has raised serious questions about the monitoring of welfare schemes, over 14,000 men have been found to be bogus beneficiaries of Maharashtra’s women-centric ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana’. The government, which launched the scheme to provide low-income women with monthly monetary assistance, is now being criticized for lax verification and abuse of public money.
Massive Financial Irregularities Exposed
The scheme was introduced to give ₹1,500 per month to women belonging to economically weaker sections. But the latest audits by the state government’s Women and Child Development Department found that more than 14,000 men had registered themselves as female beneficiaries and received the monthly disbursement. This fraud has cost the state more than ₹21 crore, initial estimates indicate.
Ineligible Applicants Exceed 26 Lakh
The audit has also revealed that over 26 lakh recipients were not eligible according to the scheme’s criteria. These are women belonging to families that own over one vehicle, individuals already receiving other schemes of government welfare, and those who exceed the age limit fixed by the government. The authorities have suspended all such cases pending confirmation.
Government Vows Recovery, Legal Action
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has confirmed that the government will initiate recovery proceedings against those who wrongly claimed the benefit. In addition, district administrations have been directed to file FIRs wherever intentional fraud is suspected. Officials involved in approving such fake applications may also face disciplinary action.
Opposition Slams State Government
The opposition parties have accused the state of initiating the scheme without establishing proper checks and balances. They believe that the hurry to introduce welfare programs in the name of political gains has resulted in extensive corruption and wastage of taxpayer funds. Calls for a CBI or judicial investigation into the matter have also begun to emerge.
Beneficiaries to Face Re-verification
To ensure that these benefits do not fall into the wrong hands again, the state government has directed a full re-verification of beneficiaries under the scheme. Aadhaar records, proof of income, and other details will be cross-verified, and only confirmed women will receive the assistance.
Trust in Public Schemes at Stake
The abuse of the Ladki Bahin scheme not only contributes to financial strain on the state treasury but also seriously questions the effectiveness of the implementation of social welfare initiatives. Unless tighter verification systems are instituted, such cases can perpetually undermine public trust.
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