The state government had initiated e-KYC for around 2.30 crore beneficiaries as part of a digital verification drive to ensure that recipients fulfil eligibility criteria under the scheme. (Express Photo)
A wrongly framed question, misinterpreted during the e-KYC process of the Maharashtra government’s flagship Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, has resulted in over 24 lakh beneficiaries being wrongly classified as state government employees, leading to a halt in their monthly dole.
Realising the error, the Women and Child Welfare department has ordered nearly one lakh Anganwadi workers across the state to physically verify the affected beneficiaries.
“Among one of the questions, a query was wrongly framed. Instead of simply asking whether any member of the family is a government employee, the question was framed with two negative words. The question confused the respondents and around 24 lakh replied in affirmative.
That means at least one member from their family was a government employee. It automatically stopped the monthly payment to these beneficiaries,” said a senior official from the Women and Child Welfare department.
The official explained that the problematic question in Marathi read, Tumchya Gharatle koni sarkari nokrit nahi na? (“Nobody in your family works for the government, right?”). Respondents who should have responded with a no are said to have written yes due to the framing of the question.
The error became evident when officials reviewed the data. The officer said that when they saw the data, the mistake was realised as the Maharashtra government has only 8 to 9 lakh employees, including those in semi-government bodies and corporations. “We also started getting complaints from different parts of the state regarding non-payment of monthly installment,” he said.
On Tuesday night, Women and Child Welfare Minister Aditi Tatkare, in a post on X, announced that physical verification of these respondents would be carried out by Anganwadi workers.
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The state government had initiated e-KYC for around 2.30 crore beneficiaries as part of a digital verification drive to ensure that recipients fulfil eligibility criteria under the scheme. The deadline for completing e-KYC was December 31. The state releases around Rs 3,700 crore every month for approximately 2.25 crore beneficiaries, with each eligible woman receiving Rs 1,500 per month.
The e-KYC exercise was undertaken following complaints that male members were receiving benefits under the scheme or that some government employees had been registered as beneficiaries.
Launched ahead of the 2024 state assembly elections, the Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme provides monthly financial assistance to eligible women. While the scheme has put significant pressure on state finances, it is widely seen as one of the key factors behind the massive electoral victory of the Mahayuti government.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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