Ajit Pawar admits Ladki Bahin payout mistakes; Sena (UBT) seeks resignation

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Monday admitted to "mistakes" in distributing financial assistance to all women applicants of the state government's launched last year, which he said would be rectified through scrutiny to ensure only genuine beneficiaries receive the aid.

Pawar attributed the lapses to the hasty implementation of the scheme, which was announced months ahead of the state assembly polls held in November 2024.

Latching on to the admission of mistakes, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut demanded Pawar's resignation, alleging that the finance department headed by the NCP leader condoned the "loot of government money for the sake of votes".

"We made a mistake of giving the financial benefit to all women (applicants). We had little time to scrutinise the applications and identify the ineligible ones. At that time, elections were supposed to be announced in two to three months," Pawar, who heads the finance ministry, told reporters in Baramati.

He stressed that the money deposited in the bank accounts of women will not be taken back.

"When the scheme was unveiled, the government had appealed that only eligible women apply but that didn't happen. A scrutiny is being conducted. Only the needy women will get the monthly payout," he added.

The Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched on 17 August 2024, targeting women in the age group of 21 to 65 years whose annual income is capped at Rs 2.5 lakh. The applicants started receiving the benefits for July and August from the month of September. Under the scheme, eligible women are entitled to a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500.

The scheme, believed to have ensured a crucial vote swing in favour of the Mahayuti alliance, has always been a subject of political discussions centred around governance morality, fiscal discipline, and genuine beneficiaries.

The women and child development ministry recently identified 2,289 government employees who had availed of the benefits of the scheme meant for poor women.