Raipur, Chhattisgarh: The Mahatari Vandan Scheme, a flagship initiative of the Chhattisgarh government for women’s welfare, is now under a major verification process. The Women and Child Development Department has announced that all beneficiaries must complete e-KYC to remain eligible for the scheme. Names of ineligible or deceased women will be removed from the list.
In the first phase, the department plans to verify 4.25 lakh women. Beneficiaries must submit their Aadhaar cards and provide biometric authentication. Officials have urged women to contact Anganwadi workers for assistance to ensure no eligible woman misses out.
Why the Verification?
After the release of the 21st installment, concerns were raised over ineligible beneficiaries receiving funds. During a recent Assembly session, questions were raised about irregularities in the scheme. The department has displayed the beneficiary list at Anganwadi centers, and verification will be carried out immediately.
Claims of Name Cuts
The Congress party has claimed that the names of 5 lakh eligible women have already been removed from the scheme. During the 20th installment in October, ₹606.94 crore was transferred to 65 lakh women in Bastar, while the first installment had reached over 70 lakh women.
Opposition Criticism
Congress spokesperson Dhananjay Singh Thakur criticized the government for making e-KYC mandatory after 21 months, suggesting that the ruling party is trying to reduce the scheme’s payouts. “The government spends ₹606 crore every month on the scheme, putting financial pressure on the state. Now, rules and conditions are being imposed to cut the disbursement,” he said, questioning the sudden need for verification of 69 lakh 26 thousand women after nearly two years.
The e-KYC process aims to ensure that benefits reach only eligible women, but the timing and methodology have sparked political debate in the state.
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