Aditi Tatkare assures Ladki Bahin funds on track as women await payments

The scheme was a key election promise made by the Mahayuti, which came to power in December 2024.

The initiative aimed to provide financial support to women aged 21 to 65, with an annual family income below Rs 2.5 lakh, and a bank account linked with Aadhaar. However, many women who qualified under these criteria say they haven’t received the promised money in recent months.

On Monday, April 21, Maharashtra Minister Aditi Tatkare responded to media reports, stating that the financial aid has not been reduced for any beneficiaries, she said “There were many media reports that claimed 7,74,148 women were seeing reduced benefits under the Ladki Bahin scheme due to their participation in other welfare programmes. The Ladki Bahin Yojana provides Rs 1,500 per month to women not enrolled in any other government schemes. If a woman is receiving less than Rs 1,500 from another scheme, the government covers the shortfall under the Ladki Bahin program. In line with this policy, those receiving Rs 1,000 per month under the Namo Shetkari Samman Yojana are being given Rs 500 more through the Ladki Bahin Yojana.”

While talking to The Indian Express, she said “Around 7.74 lakh women, who already receive Rs 1,000 per month from a different scheme, are being given an additional Rs 500 to match the Rs 1,500 benefit provided under the Ladki Bahin scheme.” When asked about the delays in payments, the minister said, “We are working on it continuously. There is a team solving the problems related to bank details, documentation, or Aadhaar linking. Many women have already received the money. Those who haven’t will receive it very soon. We assure that everyone registered in this scheme will get their money soon.”

Manisha Bhosale, 46, a part-time beautician from Warje, said “I take care of my old mother who is bedridden. I stay with my husband and 2 school-going sons. My husband works as a garbage cleaner and I also go house to house for beauty services to earn a little money. Life is hard already. When this scheme started, I thought, ‘Finally, some relief.’ The Rs 1,500 helped me buy adult diapers for my mother, pay part of our rent, and manage daily expenses. But now it’s like someone pulled the rug from under our feet. I’ve not received any money for the past two months. I’ve checked my bank passbook again and again but nothing has been created. When I asked the government official, he just shrugged and said, ‘It’s a system error, wait.’ But how long should we keep waiting? No clarity, no accountability. After elections, we’ve become invisible to them. This money was not a favour—it was a promise. Why are they making false promises to us?”

Sunita Pawar, 40, a vegetable vendor from Kothrud, said, “Every morning, I wake up at 4 am, go to the wholesale market, pick up vegetables, and then sit on the roadside till late evening just to earn enough to feed my family. Because of the heat people don’t frequent my stall like before. When the Ladki Bahin Yojana started, I was relieved. That RS 1,500 every month helped me buy extra stock, pay for my son’s school books, and manage some household needs. It wasn’t a big amount, but for us, it meant stability. For three months, I got the money, and then it suddenly stopped. I went to the bank—they said no problem at their end. I went to the government office—they just kept saying ‘It will come, the issue is being solved.’ But it’s been three months now. They used us for votes and now won’t even give us a clear answer. This isn’t right.”

Lata Mane, 51, who runs a small home-based tiffin service in Aundh, said “After my husband passed away, I stay with my kids who are studying in class 6 and 9, I started this tiffin service to survive. I make around 15 meals a day—cooking, packing, delivering—all by myself. I don’t have a pension or any big support. For a short while, I received the Rs 1,500—it helped with the rising gas cylinder costs and grocery bills. But then it stopped coming. I’ve visited the office four times each time, they say there’s some technical issue. But no one tells us what exactly is wrong or when we’ll get the money again. I don’t want to beg. I just want what was promised to us. Is that too much?”
Razia Pathan, 37, a tailor from Kondhwa, said, “I stitch clothes at home while also taking care of my two young daughters. My husband does odd jobs—some days he finds work, some days he doesn’t. The Rs 1,500 we received helped us pay for electricity, milk, and sometimes even small medicines for the kids.

When it stopped, I thought maybe it was a one-month delay. But now it’s been 2 months. When I asked, the officer told me it was an Aadhaar issue.

But my bank confirmed that everything is perfectly linked. I even re-linked it just in case. Still nothing. Every time I visit the office, they just say, ‘It’s being looked into.’

But how long ? We were told this money was for empowering women—now we feel cheated.”