Maharashtra's Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) on Monday, 13 July issued a detailed clarification on the E-KYC verification process for the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, firmly asserting that no eligible woman will be stripped of her benefits. The statement came in direct response to media reports claiming that over 92 lakh women had been removed from the flagship welfare scheme — reports the department categorically dismissed as “factually incorrect and baseless.”

Why Over 60 Lakh Applications Were Filtered Out

According to the WCD department, a six-month E-KYC window was opened in August 2025, followed by an additional grace period in April 2026 to allow applicants to rectify discrepancies. Despite these repeated opportunities, over 60 lakh applicants failed to complete the mandatory verification process.

Separately, data cross-referencing with other government departments helped identify ineligible applicants. Around 15 lakh applicants were found to have annual incomes exceeding the scheme's prescribed eligibility threshold, while approximately 5 lakh applicants were flagged for having four-wheeler vehicles registered in their names — a disqualifying criterion under the scheme's rules.

What the Government Said

“Barring applicants who did not complete the E-KYC process despite repeated opportunities, and those who do not meet the scheme's eligibility criteria, the Department has taken every precaution to ensure that not a single eligible woman faces injustice,” the WCD Department stated in its official clarification.

WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare reassured the public of the state's commitment to the scheme's uninterrupted continuation. “With the steadfast support of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, and with the trust of every beloved sister of Maharashtra, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is moving forward with strength,” she said.

Relief for Genuine Beneficiaries Facing Suspension

The department acknowledged that some women who had completed their E-KYC still experienced a suspension of benefits. Officials confirmed that a strict re-verification process is currently underway to resolve these grievances and restore payouts to eligible recipients as quickly as possible.

For women who had applied to both the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, the department said it is actively ensuring that beneficiaries continue to receive payouts from at least one of the two overlapping schemes without interruption.

Broader Context and What It Means for Beneficiaries

The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is one of Maharashtra's most politically prominent direct-benefit transfer programmes, targeting women from economically vulnerable households. The controversy over alleged mass deletions had sparked public anxiety, particularly among rural and semi-urban beneficiaries who depend on the monthly transfers.

This is not the first time a large-scale welfare scheme in India has faced friction at the E-KYC stage — similar bottlenecks were seen with PM Kisan and Ujjwala Yojana rollouts, where verification lags temporarily disrupted disbursements. The Maharashtra government's swift public clarification signals political sensitivity around the scheme ahead of ongoing local governance cycles. With re-verification underway, eligible beneficiaries can expect resolution in the coming weeks.