- Maharashtra reduces monthly payout from ₹1,500 to ₹500 for over 7.7 lakh women under Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
- Reduction due to overlap with ₹1,000 monthly benefits under Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana.
- Scheme beneficiaries re-evaluated; 17 lakh women removed following eligibility criteria such as income and vehicle ownership.
Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana Maharashtra witnesses significant changes as the state government reduces the monthly payout amount and revises beneficiary lists. This welfare scheme, designed to support women across Maharashtra, now adjusts benefits for approximately 7.7 lakh women, reducing from ₹1,500 per month to ₹500.
Reason Behind Payout Reduction in Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana Maharashtra
The reduction aligns with the government’s policy to avoid duplicate benefits. Beneficiaries already receiving ₹1,000 a month through Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana will now receive an additional ₹500 from Ladki Bahin Yojana, ensuring the total maximum monthly benefit remains ₹1,500.
Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare clarified that this adjustment concerns 7,74,148 women to comply with combined benefit limits. She also emphasized that no eligible woman has been excluded since the updated process started post July 3, 2024.
Re-Verification and Removal of Ineligible Beneficiaries
Following the formation of the new government, a rigorous review of beneficiaries commenced in December 2024. This resulted in the removal of approximately 17 lakh women from the scheme who did not meet updated eligibility criteria such as:
- Not owning a four-wheeler vehicle.
- Having a family income not exceeding ₹2.5 lakh per annum.
Before this re-evaluation, there were 2.63 crore women listed as beneficiaries. The revised list, as of February and March 2025, shows benefits transferred to only 2.46 crore women.
Political Reactions and Public Views
The reduction in payouts and beneficiaries sparked criticism from opposition parties. They allege that the ruling coalition used the scheme politically before elections and are now withdrawing benefits post-election. Maharashtra Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the BJP-led government of betraying women voters’ trust and called the changes a reversal of election promises.
Important Points for Beneficiaries
Women already receiving benefits under both schemes should be aware of these adjustments and understand eligibility conditions to continue receiving support. No changes have been announced in the application or evaluation process since July 2024.