Benefits under a scheme meant for women distributed to men in Maharashtra
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New Delhi: BJP-lead Maharashtra government granted benefits of flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, meant for women aged between 21-65 years, to more than 12,000 men, The Wire reported.
At least 12,431 men received the benefits of the scheme which ensures woman to receive 1,500 each month.
However, following verification the men were later removed from the list of beneficiaries, according to the report citing The Indian Express.
The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department that runs the scheme told Information (RTI) query by the newspaper that 77,980 women were also identified as ineligible.
It is reported citing RTI reply that 12,431 men wrongly received Rs. 1,500 each month for 13 months.
The total amount distributed to them is found to be Rs. 24.24 crore, while 77,980 ineligible women received a total amount of Rs. 140.28 crore for 12 months.
Launched in June 2024 months before the Assembly polls, the scheme costing the government nearly Rs 3,700 crore a month has nearly 2.41 crore women beneficiaries.
It is also reported that at least 2,400 government employees, including men, also availed benefits under the scheme with authorities initiating disciplinary action against them.
‘Under the scheme, an estimated 77,980 women beneficiaries have been declared ineligible. They were found ineligible based on government resolutions dated June 28, July 3 and July 12, 2024, which outlines the eligibility and ineligibility criteria. Action against these beneficiaries is yet to be decided at the state level,’ the WCD reportedly said in another response.
The newspaper quoted an official as saying that some beneficiaries were receiving multiple government scheme, adding that ‘In several households, more than two members were receiving benefits. Thousands of government staffers were found taking benefits despite being ineligible. Some had annual incomes exceeding 2.5 lakh’.