Minister: Wait for verified Ladki figures

State women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare is scrambling to contain the damage caused by a government report, which revealed that 26.34 lakh (2.63 million) individuals enrolled under the flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana were ineligible for the scheme’s monthly payout.

- Saurabha Kulshreshtha

Tatkare told the media after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday that her department, which implements the scheme, would get details of these beneficiaries cross-verified before confirming exactly how many were ineligible.

“After verification from the district collectors’ office, some of these 26.34 lakh beneficiaries may turn eligible,” the minister said.

She went on to say, “We have started scrutiny to ensure the Ladki Bahin scheme is not misused. The women and child development department has also sought reports from the income tax department, transport department and food and civil supplies department on the 26.34 lakh beneficiaries in question. Only after we receive these reports will we be able to assess the actual number of ineligible beneficiaries.”