Mumbai
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Eligible women under the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana, popularly known as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, in Maharashtra may soon receive Rs 4,500 as a lump sum payment after completing the mandatory e-KYC verification process, according to officials familiar with ongoing state-level discussions.
The proposed payment would cover three months of pending financial assistance under the scheme, which provides Rs 1,500 per month to women from economically weaker sections. Officials said internal discussions regarding the release of pending instalments are currently under way, though a final government order is still awaited.
Eligible women in Maharashtra under the Ladki Bahin Yojana may soon receive Rs 4,500 as a lump sum for three months of pending assistance after completing mandatory e-KYC verification. Government discussions are underway regarding the release of these stalled payments following a recent beneficiary verification drive.
The latest Ladki Bahin Yojana e-KYC update comes after months of scrutiny and verification of beneficiaries registered under the scheme. Thousands of women had expressed concern after applications were marked ineligible or kept pending during the re-verification drive.
Women who completed e-KYC within the prescribed deadline are now waiting for clarity on when the stalled instalments will be credited to their bank accounts.
What Is Ladki Bahin Yojana?
The Ladki Bahin Yojana, officially called the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin scheme, was launched by the Maharashtra government in June 2024 to provide direct monthly financial support to women from economically weaker households.
Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 1,500 every month directly into their bank accounts. The government made e-KYC compulsory to verify identity, eligibility, income details and other records before releasing payments.
The scheme witnessed massive participation after launch, with nearly 2 crore 47 lakh women registering across Maharashtra.
Verification Drive Reduced Beneficiary Numbers
Officials said applications were checked using e-KYC data, income limits, government employment records and other eligibility conditions to identify irregularities and prevent misuse of the scheme.
According to government figures, the number of eligible beneficiaries has now stabilised at around 1 crore 89 lakh women.
During the verification process, authorities reportedly found several irregularities. Some applicants allegedly submitted incorrect information while continuing to receive benefits. In other cases, women linked to government employment categories reportedly received assistance despite being ineligible. Officials also identified families with incomes above the permitted ceiling.
Investigators further found cases where men allegedly applied using women’s names and collected money under the scheme.
By the end of March, nearly 68 lakh women had been declared ineligible and removed from the active beneficiary list.
Thousands Regained Eligibility After e-KYC Extension
The state government later provided additional time for women to complete pending e-KYC formalities and update their documents. Officials said around 14 lakh women successfully completed verification during April and regained eligibility under the scheme.
Following these revisions, the number of currently ineligible beneficiaries reportedly reduced to around 54 lakh.
Meanwhile, women who could not complete e-KYC before the earlier deadline are continuing to demand another extension. Requests seeking additional time have reportedly reached Women and Child Development Department offices from several districts across Maharashtra.
If the government approves the pending proposal, eligible women who completed verification could receive Rs 4,500 together as a single transfer covering three months of unpaid assistance under the Ladki Bahin Yojana.
