Latest news with #WomenandChildDevelopmentDepartment
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Ladki Bahin Yojana: 14,000 men receive money under scheme for women; Ajit Pawar says govt will recover money
Amid Maharashtra's Women and Child Development Department (WCD) claimed that men fraudulently received financial benefits under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the audit conducted by the WCD said the ₹ 21.44 crore was disbursed to 14,298 men under the scheme. According to the report, these men manipulated the online registration system and managed to register themselves as female beneficiaries. Incidentally, the fraudulent use scheme was uncovered nearly 10 months after it's launch. Earlier in 2024, the Maharashtra government launched the Ladki Bahin Yojana, months before the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, promising ₹ 1,500 per month to women aged between 21 and 65 years whose families earn less than ₹ 2.5 lakh annually. This scheme helped the Mahayuti alliance in the state, led by the BJP and supported by factions of the Shiv Sena and NCP, to come back to power. However, the misuse of the scheme has irked Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. He said, as quoted by PTI, "Ladki Bahin scheme was launched to help poor women. There is absolutely no reason why men should be its beneficiaries. We will recover the money given to them. If they do not cooperate, further action will be taken." Though the fraudulent inclusion of men in the scheme seems to be an issue for the government, another problem erupted as the scheme has incurred an estimated loss of ₹ 1,640 crore in its first year. Reason – large-scale ineligible enrollments. The WCD report also noted that over 7.97 lakh women who enrolled as third members from the same family, despite the scheme restricting benefits to a maximum of two women per household. This cost the exchequer ₹ 1,196 crore. Apart from this, around 2.87 lakh women over the age of 65 are receiving benefits, says the report, leading the state losing approximately ₹ 431.7 crore. Not only this, 1.62 lakh women from households, owning four-wheelers, were also found on the beneficiary rolls. Questioning the finding and seeking wider investigation, NCP MP Supriya Sule said, as quoted by NDTV, "How did these men fill the forms? Who helped them? Which company was given the contract for registrations? There's a bigger conspiracy behind this. The company should be investigated, and the matter should be probed by an SIT or the ED." In January, WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare publicly committed to corrective action and said that 5 lakh ineligible beneficiaries had been removed from the system. "The Department of Women and Child Development had sought information from all government departments to verify the eligibility of all applications. Accordingly, the Information and Technology Department reported that approximately 26.34 lakh beneficiaries, despite being ineligible, were availing benefits of the scheme. It has been found that some beneficiaries were availing the benefits of multiple schemes, some families had more than two beneficiaries, and in some cases, men had applied for the scheme. Based on this information, starting from June 2025, the benefits for these 26.34 lakh applicants have been temporarily suspended. Additionally, approximately 2.25 crore eligible beneficiaries of the scheme have been disbursed the honorarium for the month of June 2025," WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare said.
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
More than 14,000 men in Maharashtra received monthly payout under Ladki Bahin scheme: Report
More than 14,000 men in Maharashtra allegedly received a monthly payout under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for 10 months, the Hindustan Times reported on Sunday, citing a recent review of the scheme by the state government. The Women and Child Development Department said that 14,298 men had enrolled in the scheme by misrepresenting their identities. This led to a loss of Rs 21.44 crore to the state exchequer, the newspaper reported. Payments to their accounts have since been stopped. The scheme, launched in June 2024, provides a monthly transfer of Rs 1,500 to women aged 21 to 65 whose families earn less than Rs 2.5 lakh a year. The Ladki Bahin scheme is said to have played a key role in the Mahayuti alliance winning 230 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly in November. The coalition comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party group led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The scheme has sparked controversy due to the strain it has placed on the state's finances. Monthly scrutiny exercises have also flagged numerous instances of ineligible enrolments under the scheme. The state government currently spends Rs 3,700 crore to disburse the benefits to 2.41 crore beneficiaries each month under the scheme, the Hindustan Times reported. On Saturday, Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said that about 26.34 lakh persons were found to be availing benefits under the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana despite being ineligible, according to the department's latest review. 'Some beneficiaries were availing benefits of multiple schemes, some families had more than two beneficiaries and in some cases, men had applied for the scheme,' Tatkare added in a social media post. 'Based on this information, starting from June 2025, the benefits for these 26.34 lakh applicants have been temporarily suspended,' she said. The records of the suspended beneficiaries will be verified by district collectors and payments will be resumed for those found eligible, she added. Tatkare said that action against 'fraudulent beneficiaries' who had 'misled' the state and availed benefits improperly would be taken after discussion with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the deputy chief ministers. Pawar also responded to reports of men fraudulently receiving payouts under the Ladki Bahin scheme and said that strict action would be taken against them, the Hindustan Times reported. 'The Ladki Bahin scheme is for needy women from lower income groups, not for men,' the newspaper quoted him as saying. 'The state government will recover the money from men who received the money under the scheme. If they don't cooperate, we will take strict action.'
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Brokers demanding bribe: BJP minister alleges recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister for Scheduled Caste Welfare, Nagar Singh Chauhan, on Saturday alleged that brokers are active in the state for Anganwadi jobs under the Women and Child Development Department in exchange for money. The minister made the allegations in a self-recorded video posted on social media, where he warned candidates against falling prey to such claimed that some individuals were luring people with promises of securing positions as Anganwadi workers and helpers in exchange for bribes. He suggested that officials within the department might be involved in the alleged district is witnessing such cases, and several people are trying to become brokers. I feel that some officers and employees of the department are involved. It is being said that if you pay a certain amount, you will get a job in Anganwadi. I have received many such complaints,' Chauhan said. He urged applicants not to give money to anyone, assuring them that the recruitment process would remain merit-based. 'I want to appeal to all applicants, sisters, and daughters that do not pay anyone a single rupee. Only those with good marks will be appointed to the Anganwadi posts,' he ongoing recruitment drive, under the Women and Child Development Department, aims to fill 19,500 posts, including 2,027 Anganwadi workers and 17,477 helpers across the to the minister's video, the opposition Congress lashed out at the BJP-led government. Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar said, 'Now even the BJP ministers are accepting that deals are being made for Anganwadi appointments. Nagar Singh Chauhan has himself admitted that brokers and government officials are claiming to get people recruited in exchange for money. This is shameful.'Singhar further added, 'It's shocking that this is happening in Alirajpur, which is the neighbouring district of Women and Child Development Minister Nirmala Bhuria. If this is the condition there, it raises serious concerns about the recruitment process across the rest of the state.'- EndsTune InTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Madhya Pradesh
News18
4 days ago
- News18
Maharashtra: Rs 21 Crore Scam In Ladki Bahin Scheme; Over 14,000 Men Found Receiving Benefits
Ladki Bahin Yojana: The scheme, which began disbursing financial aid in August 2024, aims to provide monthly support to eligible women from low-income families. The Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme launched exclusively for women in Maharashtra last year, has come under scrutiny of the state government after a major irregularity was uncovered in its allocation of funds. Sources told CNN-News18 that an official review found 14,298 men fraudulently receiving a total of Rs 21.44 crore in benefits under the scheme meant for women over ten months. The scheme, which began disbursing financial aid in August 2024, aims to provide monthly support to eligible women from low-income families. Under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the state government gives Rs 1,500 monthly to women aged 21-65. However, a recent beneficiary audit uncovered that thousands of men had somehow been included in the official list of recipients. According to government data, these male beneficiaries were enrolled under false or misrepresented identities and continued to receive benefits until the discrepancy was flagged during routine scrutiny. Sources told CNN-News18 that authorities in charge of the women-centric scheme are now under scanner over unanswered questions: how men were able to bypass eligibility checks, who approved their applications, and what systemic lapses led to the misallocation of funds. This is not the first time a welfare scheme in the state has faced credibility issues. In the past, irregularities were reported in the implementation of the Sanitary Napkin Subsidy Scheme and the Shiv Bhojan Thali initiative, where either ineligible beneficiaries were listed or funds were misappropriated. The state government is expected to take disciplinary action against those found responsible for the oversight and initiate steps to recover the misused funds. A formal statement from the Women and Child Development Department is awaited. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
14-07-2025
- General
- The Print
Anganwadi centres to get space at Zilla Parishad schools in Maharashtra
'There are thousands of Anganwadis in the state that operate from rented spaces. Irregular fund disbursement has led to difficulties in managing rent, electricity, water supply and sanitation,' said a Rural Development Department official. The initiative, which had been under discussion for some time, is expected to ease the burden on thousands of Anganwadi centres currently functioning from rented premises. These facilities play a key role in delivering services like immunisation, health check-ups, antenatal care and early childhood education. Mumbai, Jul 13 (PTI) Anganwadi centres, rural childcare centres for kids under the age of six, will now be allowed to operate from unused classrooms in nearby Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools in Maharashtra, officials have said. 'To address these issues, it had been proposed to relocate these centres to nearby ZP-run schools, provided the distance between the two is within 1 kilometre,' he said. The Anganwadi programme in Maharashtra is implemented by the Women and Child Development Department under the Union government's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. As per government data, the state has 1,10,048 Anganwadis, of which around 21,000 operate from rented premises, while 10,000 are located in community halls or public libraries. An official from the Women and Child Development Department said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 had also recommended integrating Anganwadis with schools to improve early learning outcomes. 'In line with this, the state has advised ZP schools to share unused classrooms with Anganwadis,' the official said. ZP schools have been asked to allow Anganwadi staff and children access to kitchens, washrooms, school grounds, drinking water and sports equipment, the official said. 'Where the school building has multiple floors, Anganwadis should be given classrooms on the ground floor. The Women and Child Development Department will provide funds for repairs, painting and setting up essential infrastructure, if necessary,' the official added. PTI ND NR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
