The Maharashtra government disbursed ₹9,605 crore to 9.2 million ineligible beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin Yojana until June 2026, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply obtained by Hindustan Times and reported by livemint.com. The Ladki Bahin scheme is a flagship state government program aimed at supporting girls and women.
The RTI data revealed the extent of irregular payments made under the scheme, highlighting significant administrative lapses. The information was accessed through an RTI application filed by the Hindustan Times, which detailed the scale of the ineligible disbursements. The payments were made despite the beneficiaries not meeting the eligibility criteria set by the government for the scheme.
The Ladki Bahin Yojana is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible girls and women in Maharashtra, aiming to improve their socio-economic status. The revelation of ₹9,605 crore spent on ineligible individuals raises concerns about oversight and fund management in the state's social welfare programs. Such irregularities could impact the scheme's effectiveness and the government's ability to support genuinely eligible beneficiaries.
The Maharashtra government has yet to issue an official response addressing the RTI findings. The RTI reply covers disbursements up to June 2026, providing a comprehensive view of the scheme's financial management over this period.