Scandal Erupts in Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana: Men Pose as Women to Collect Benefits

Maharashtra’s flagship scheme, Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, designed for women’s welfare, has been marred by a significant scandal. An audit revealed that over 14,000 men fraudulently registered as female beneficiaries, collectively receiving Rs 21.44 crore in benefits. This misuse prompted the suspension of 26.34 lakh beneficiaries. Supriya Sule, a prominent NCP leader, has called for a CBI inquiry to thoroughly investigate the fraudulent activities and identify those responsible. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has stated that the government will recover the misused funds. The investigation has also identified cases where employed women were wrongly receiving benefits, leading to their removal from the list. The Women and Child Development Department is taking action to rectify the situation and ensure that the scheme’s benefits reach the intended beneficiaries. Aditi Tatkare, the Women and Child Development Minister, has confirmed these developments.