- Mumbai Bank offers zero percent interest loans up to Rs 1 lakh to women under Chief Minister Ladki Bahin Yojana.
- BJP leader Pravin Darekar plays a key role in promoting and supporting the loan scheme for women beneficiaries.
- Government conducts verification drive amid fraud detection, temporarily pausing payouts to keep the scheme honest.
Chief Minister Ladki Bahin Yojana is helping women in Maharashtra with financial support, and now Mumbai Bank has taken a big step by offering 0% interest loans to women beneficiaries. This scheme, supported by BJP leader Pravin Darekar, aims to provide loans up to Rs 1 lakh to help women invest in their businesses and improve their lives. At the same time, the government is actively checking beneficiaries to keep the scheme clear and effective.
Mumbai Bank recently started offering interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh to women enrolled under the Chief Minister Ladki Bahin Yojana. This move is meant to financially support women by giving them access to funds without the burden of interest, so they can invest in their businesses or personal growth.
Role of BJP Leader Pravin Darekar in the Scheme
BJP leader Pravin Darekar has played a key role in promoting this zero interest loan scheme. At the launch event held at Mumbai Bank’s head office auditorium in Fort, he shared how the idea came from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s vision to support women financially. Pravin Darekar promised to provide one lakh interest-free loans to women beneficiaries, showing the government’s commitment to women’s welfare.
Loan Distribution and Benefits to Women
At the event, the first 200 women beneficiaries received their loans, with plans to extend this benefit to about 5,000 women. The loans will help these women invest the monthly Rs 1,500 they get under the Ladki Bahin scheme into business ventures or other income-generating activities, promoting financial independence and growth.
Introduction of QR Code Service by Mumbai Bank
To make transactions easier for Ladki Bahin beneficiaries, Mumbai Bank also introduced a QR code service during the event. This digital tool will simplify loan repayments and other banking transactions, making the process more accessible and convenient for women across Maharashtra.
Recent Developments and Verification Drive in Ladki Bahin Scheme
In 2025, the Maharashtra government started a thorough verification drive to check the Ladki Bahin scheme after reports of irregularities and fraud. This step was needed to make sure only eligible women get benefits and to keep the scheme trustworthy.
Eligibility Verification and Impact on Benefits
The government carried out physical checks of beneficiaries based on criteria like age, income, and household limits. To help with this process, payouts were temporarily paused in July 2025. Women who meet the eligibility requirements will continue to get benefits once verification is done.
Fraud Detection and Government Response
The audit found that over 14,000 men had fraudulently enrolled in the scheme, leading to more than ₹21 crore in benefits being wrongly given out. This discovery has led to calls for a CBI inquiry into alleged scams worth ₹4,800 crore. Even with these challenges, the government is committed to making sure the scheme reaches genuine beneficiaries, with the July installment of ₹1,500 successfully transferred on August 8.
For more details on the Chief Minister Ladki Bahin Yojana and related schemes, you can visit the official Maharashtra government website at https://maharashtra.gov.in.