Mumbai/Buldhana: Maharashtra’s flagship welfare scheme for women, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, has landed in controversy in Buldhana district after monthly payments of ₹1,500 were abruptly stopped for nearly 30,000 women over the past two months. The sudden halt has triggered widespread anger, anxiety, and protests among beneficiaries, many of whom depend on the scheme for basic financial support.
The scheme, launched to economically empower women aged between 21 and 65 years, provides a monthly assistance of ₹1,500. While over 6.5 lakh women in Buldhana are currently enrolled under the programme, the suspension of payments for a large group of beneficiaries has caused confusion and unrest, especially in rural areas.
Why Were Payments Stopped?
District officials clarified that the payments were not discontinued permanently but were temporarily put on hold due to errors detected during the administrative verification and e-KYC process. According to the authorities, the major reasons behind the suspension include:
- Bank accounts not linked with Aadhaar
- Errors or mismatches in Aadhaar details
- Technical glitches in the e-KYC system
Officials stressed that the scheme itself has not been shut down and that only those beneficiaries whose documents or e-KYC data showed discrepancies were affected.
Rumours Add to Panic
Reports by Maharashtra Times suggest that rumours about the permanent closure of the Ladki Bahin Yojana further fueled panic among women. Several beneficiaries approached district officials directly, questioning why their money had been withheld and whether the scheme was being scrapped altogether.
Protests at Welfare Office
Angry women gathered at the District Women and Child Welfare Office in Buldhana, demanding immediate clarification and corrective action. Protesters accused the administration of negligence and urged officials to resolve technical issues without delaying their financial aid.
Similar demonstrations have reportedly taken place in other areas as well, highlighting the growing frustration among beneficiaries.
When Will the Pending Installments Be Released?
The Women and Child Welfare Department has assured that all pending installments will be released once beneficiaries complete the required corrections in their documents and e-KYC details. Officials said that payments would resume automatically after verification issues are resolved.
Demand for e-KYC Camps
Given the scale of the problem, there is now a strong demand for the administration to organize guidance camps and e-KYC correction drives across villages and towns. Social activists argue that many women, especially in rural areas, lack digital access and technical knowledge, making it difficult for them to fix documentation errors on their own.
About the Ladki Bahin Yojana
The Ladki Bahin Yojana is one of the Maharashtra government’s major welfare initiatives aimed at strengthening women financially. Under the scheme, women between 21 and 65 years of age receive ₹1,500 every month directly into their bank accounts.
With livelihoods of thousands at stake, beneficiaries are now looking toward the administration for swift and transparent action to restore payments and prevent further hardship.
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