Audit Report Exposes Rs 3,544 Crore Overspend On Ladki Bahin Yojana
A CAG audit revealed that the Maharashtra government overspent by over Rs 3,500 crore on the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana' welfare scheme. The government has also significantly reduced the number of beneficiaries, citing eligibility and documentation issues.
Why it matters
The report highlights fiscal management challenges in large-scale welfare programs and the political implications of budget overruns in state governance.
The launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' has changed the way Maharashtra spends on schemes benefiting women. The scheme was announced in June 2024 and provides Rs 1,500 a month to eligible women aged 21 to 65 years from economically weaker households. It aims to provide direct financial assistance and improve women's economic independence.Over the past few years, massive expenditure under this scheme have ballooned the state's gender budget. While the government continues to fund programmes on women's safety, education, health and livelihoods, the Ladki Bahin scheme has emerged as the biggest component of women-focused spending.Spending More Than It Has?However, the scheme was recently hit with questions over its finances.
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