Nagpur, Dec 9 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Minister for Women and Child Welfare, Aditi Tatkare, announced to the state council that the government is implementing strict measures against those ineligible individuals who unlawfully benefited from the Ladki Bahin Yojana. This initiative has led to substantial financial recoveries and punitive actions against implicated government officials.

The government has commenced recovery actions targeting the fraudulent beneficiaries and government personnel.

Disciplinary measures are underway for officials whose negligence resulted in the allocation of funds to ineligible applicants and who approved deceitful claims.

This scheme, which offers a direct financial aid (DBT) of Rs 1500 monthly to qualified women, has been exploited, prompting an extensive investigation.

In response to inquiries from Congress legislators Pradnya Satav and Satej Patil, Minister Tatkare indicated that the government has resolved to recover misappropriated funds from these officials in accordance with Maharashtra Civil Services Rules.

Relevant departments have been instructed to begin the recovery process.

Additionally, a Cabinet meeting has confirmed that financial assistance received by beneficiaries who have voluntarily or otherwise become ineligible will not be reclaimed.

Sources from the women and child welfare department revealed that around 26.85 lakh women were identified as either ineligible or as having fraudulently claimed benefits, collectively receiving approximately Rs 1189 crore in financial support.

Furthermore, about 10,956 state government employees are reported to have illegally benefited from the scheme, receiving a total of approximately Rs 18.57 crore.

The state government had recently increased the monthly financial assistance under the scheme from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, implementing new terms and conditions, with various committees and officials overseeing the execution.

Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cautioned legislators across both ruling and opposition parties for frequently referencing the state's flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana while discussing unrelated matters during the Assembly's Question Hour.

“If this behavior continues, you may have to remain at home,” the Chief Minister stated firmly within the assembly. Notably, he reprimanded BJP legislator Abhimanyu Pawar.

Pawar, a two-term MLA who previously served as Fadnavis’s personal assistant, raised concerns about alleged illegal liquor distribution while briefly mentioning the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

Fadnavis interrupted him, reiterating his instruction to members not to indiscriminately bring up the Ladki Bahin Yojana in unrelated discussions, prompting a stunned silence in the assembly.

During the Question Hour, Congress MLA Jyoti Gaikwad also referenced the scheme while discussing the death of a female doctor in Phaltan, compelling the Chief Minister to advise legislators against linking the scheme with every issue at hand.

Fadnavis emphasized that the program is a significant state initiative and should not be misused for political leverage.

“This scheme will persist. It will not divert funds or resources from any other program. However, unnecessary comments regarding it should be avoided,” he remarked.