Poll impact fear stalls Ladki Bahin scrutiny

The state government is going slow on scrutinising beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana as it fears the exercise could hamper the ruling Mahayuti coalition's prospects in the upcoming local body polls, officials from the state's women and child development department, which anchors the scheme, told Hindustan Times on Saturday.

- Saurabha Kulshreshtha

MUMBAI:

The scheme, which entitles women whose annual family income is below ₹2.5 lakh to a monthly dole of ₹1,500, was launched after the Mahayuti alliance fared poorly in the Lok Sabha polls held in June 2024. Between July and November 2024, around 23.4 million women enrolled under the scheme received ₹7,500 each towards five instalments of the scheme, according to data with the women and child development department. At present, the state pays ₹3,700 crore per month to 24.6 million women enrolled under the scheme.