This is an archive article published on January 18, 2025
Fadnavis govt to ask ‘ineligible’ Ladki Bahin beneficiaries to return money; NCP(SP) warns stir
Minister Aditi Tatkare said the government is undertaking the cross-verification and around 4,000 women have already come forward and informed that they were ineligible under the Ladki Bahin scheme.
Ladki Bahin scheme: More than a month after it came to power by banking heavily on the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti Government in Maharashtra has decided to track down women who have availed of its benefits despite being ineligible.
Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP) said it will not allow the government to humiliate women who voted it to power and warned of protests. The Ladki Bahin scheme offers Rs 1,500 per month to every woman aged 21 to 65 with an annual family income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh.
Speaking to reporters in Shirdi Saturday, Minister for Women and Child Welfare Aditi Tatkare said, “We are undertaking the cross-verification process. Those who are ineligible and still availed of the benefits of the scheme will be asked to return the money.”
Tatkare, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, said the cross-verification is happening in five areas. “One of them is the criteria of annual income of up to Rs 2.50 lakh. Those with a yearly income above Rs 2.50 lakh are being scrutinised. Besides, we have also received complaints that women who have four-wheelers have also availed of the benefits. Then there are married women who are living outside Maharashtra but still took the benefit… We have also found duplicate applications… Besides, it has been found that some have taken the benefit of two different government schemes.”
Tatkare, however, added that some ineligible women have come forward themselves and started returning the money. “I want to thank the womenfolk who have taken the honest stand of returning the money after realising that they were not eligible for the scheme,” she said.
The minister said around 4,000 women have already come forward in this manner. “This is an approximate number. There could be more women who are ineligible. In December, we received some 100-150 forms from women who were ineligible and this month, we are receiving such forms on a large-scale,” she said.
The cross-verification, being done in tandem with the transport department and the income tax department is “a continuous process and it will be carried out consistently”, she mentioned.
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The money returned will go to the government treasurer. “Who says we are not taking back the money? We are in touch with the finance department and the planning department. These departments will help us create a separate head and through it the money will go to the government treasury. This refunded money will be used for other public projects,” Tatkare said.
The minister appealed to women to come forward and return the money if they availed of the scheme’s benefit despite being ineligible.
Reacting to Tatkare’s statement, the NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said his party will not allow the Mahayuti government to humiliate womenfolk in this manner. “First, the government doled out the amount without any scrutiny. This was done intentionally and brazenly to get the votes of women beneficiaries. And now when the government has come to power through the votes, the womenfolk are being shown the door. This is injustice and a deliberate attempt to humiliate women. Our party will not allow this,” Tapase said.
NCP(SP) leader Vidya Chavan, meanwhile, warned of protests. “As per the information available from government sources, out of the 2.5 crore women who have availed of the benefit of the scheme, at least 65 lakh will be ineligible. If the government decides to make women ineligible on such a large scale after getting the benefit of their vote and coming to power, we will take to the streets and not allow the government to play such a cheating game,” she said.
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The BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the recently held Assembly polls in the state, winning 132 seats out of the 149 it contested. The Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde won 57 and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar bagged 41 seats. Together, the Mahayuti secured 230 seats out of the 288 in Maharashtra.
Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
Professional Legacy
Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles.
Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change.
Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities.
Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area:
1. Political Shifts & Alliances
"Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
"BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls.
"Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections.
"NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections.
2. Civic & Administrative Accountability
"PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions.
"93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads.
3. Social & Labor Issues
"As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra.
"Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse.
Signature Beat
Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport.
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