Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday announced a comprehensive review of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's flagship Women's Safety Scheme, alleging it was rushed out on the eve of Assembly elections to mislead women voters rather than as a genuine welfare measure. Speaking in the Kerala Legislative Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram, Satheesan said his government would not discontinue the scheme outright but would first examine serious complaints about beneficiary identification and implementation irregularities before taking a final call.

Key Allegations Against the Scheme

CM Satheesan pointed out that the previous LDF government launched the scheme on 11 February 2026 — barely a month before the Assembly election was notified on 16 March — and released the first instalment of financial assistance on the very day the Model Code of Conduct came into force. He said this timing raised fundamental questions about the scheme's intent.

'The scheme will not continue without scrutiny. We have received allegations that no proper field-level verification was carried out and that beneficiaries were selected in violation of established procedures,' Satheesan said in the Assembly.

He further alleged that applications were processed within days by local body secretaries without adequate checks — including verification of whether applicants were already receiving other welfare pensions.

Beneficiary Count Discrepancy

One of the most pointed concerns raised by the Chief Minister was the sharp revision in projected beneficiaries. The LDF initially projected 31.34 lakh beneficiaries before revising the figure down to 16.4 lakh — a discrepancy that Satheesan argued exposed flaws in the selection process and raised doubts about the scheme's credibility.

Notably, the State Budget has already earmarked ₹1,950 crore for the programme. The government has indicated it will decide the scheme's future only after a thorough examination of the complaints received.

Political Context and Timing

Satheesan broadened his attack on the previous dispensation, noting that the LDF had governed Kerala for 120 months but announced the women's scheme only in its final month in office — and only after suffering a setback in local body elections. 'If it was a manifesto promise, why was it implemented only when the government was on its way out?' he asked.

This comes amid a broader pattern of incoming state governments scrutinising welfare schemes announced by their predecessors in the run-up to elections — a practice that critics argue disrupts continuity of welfare delivery for intended beneficiaries.

What the New Government Has Done

Contrasting his administration's approach, Satheesan said the first Cabinet meeting after assuming office approved free bus travel for women and enhanced the honorarium of ASHA workers by ₹3,000, besides increasing remuneration for Anganwadi teachers, helpers, and pre-primary teachers.

He also accused the LDF of ignoring a prolonged agitation by ASHA workers and ridiculing their demands rather than addressing them. The review's outcome is expected to determine the fate of a scheme that, according to reports, was intended to benefit over 16 lakh women across the state.