Jharkhand’s Maiyaan Samman Yojana, a cornerstone welfare program for women, faces a temporary payment hiccup due to stringent eligibility checks, Minister Chamra Linda informed the state assembly in Ranchi. The verification exercise, aimed at cleansing the beneficiary roster, has slowed down the 18th installment rollout.
Current lists are being scrutinized to excise names of women who no longer—or never did—qualify. This dual process of deletions and inclusions promises a more accurate and inclusive scheme framework. The minister emphasized that these measures prevent misuse and optimize resource allocation.
In a relief announcement, the 18th tranche will hit accounts before Holi festivities begin. Eligible women owed the 17th and 18th installments—Rs 2,500 each—will enjoy a consolidated Rs 5,000 deposit, minimizing transaction friction.
The purge targets clear violators:
• Minors under 18 or seniors above 60
• Those providing bogus data or documents
• Economically empowered women holding jobs or pensions
• Accounts not synced with Aadhaar
• Families boasting government service members
Progress reports highlight first-phase successes in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Deoghar, Bokaro, Gumla, Lohardaga, East Singhbhum (Jamshedpur), Jamtara, Simdega, Chatra, Pakur, and Garhwa. These districts lead the payment queue, with statewide coverage to accelerate post-verification.
As Jharkhand balances welfare expansion with fiscal prudence, this episode highlights the challenges of scaling aid programs. Yet, with Holi payments locked in, the scheme reaffirms its promise to empower marginalized women, fostering financial independence and community upliftment in the long term.