Is the Mahayuti Government Phasing Out the “Ladki Bahin” Scheme?

 By Whips and Wickets

The Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra is under fire amid allegations that it is quietly scaling back—or even preparing to scrap—the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. Launched in July 2024, this flagship women’s welfare program proved pivotal in securing the government’s landslide victory. Yet recent cuts to dole-outs, frozen promises of higher payouts and an expanding audit of beneficiaries have sowed doubts about the scheme’s future. Below is a concise, fact-driven overview of what’s happened—and what it could mean for the state’s women voters.

Why the Ladki Bahin Yojana Mattered

When the government unveiled the Ladki Bahin Yojana last July, it pledged ₹1,500 every month to women aged 18–65 from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme instantly became an electoral game‑changer: versatile, high‑impact and broadly popular, it helped mobilize a critical voting bloc in the February 2024 Assembly elections, contributing to Mahayuti’s decisive 232‑seat win.

The Spark: Reduced Payouts for Overlapping Beneficiaries

In early April, officials announced that 8 lakh women already drawing ₹1,000 per month under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi farm‑aid program would now receive only ₹500 from the Ladki Bahin Yojana—bringing their total benefit back to the scheme’s original ₹1,500 cap. Critics branded this adjustment a “bait‑and‑switch,” charging that it violates pre‑election assurances and hints at the scheme’s imminent demise.

Broken Promises and Budgetary Realities

Despite pre‑poll assurances of a steeper increase to ₹2,100 per month, the Mahayuti government has indefinitely postponed any hike, citing the state’s ballooning debt—expected to hit ₹9.3 lakh crore in 2025–26—and a cut in the scheme’s allocation from ₹46,000 crore to ₹36,000 crore for the coming fiscal year. With Maharashtra already grappling with delayed salaries and farm‑loan waivers, the administration insists that fiscal prudence must take precedence.

Scrutiny Intensifies: Eligibility Audits

Adding to the uncertainty, authorities have launched a thorough eligibility audit, probing beneficiaries’ income levels, vehicle ownership and other criteria. Projections suggest up to 15 lakh women could be ruled ineligible—and dropped from the roster—fanning accusations of politically driven weeding‑out rather than genuine eligibility enforcement.

Is the Scheme Doomed—or Being Recalibrated?

While government spokespeople adamantly deny any plan to abolish the Ladki Bahin Yojana outright, the convergence of reduced payouts, deferred enhancements and aggressive audits paints a picture of strategic retrenchment. For its part, the opposition vows to fight tooth and nail to keep the scheme alive, pledging legal challenges and mass protests if necessary.

Conclusion: Trust vs. Sustainability

The Mahayuti government now faces a delicate balancing act. Can it maintain the trust of millions of women who banked on this scheme, while safeguarding Maharashtra’s fragile finances? Or will short‑term electoral gains give way to long‑term budgetary constraints—and political fallout?

We invite you to weigh in: should welfare programs focus on immediate voter appeal, or on careful, sustainable planning? Share your thoughts below and stay tuned to Whips and Wickets for further updates

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