Ladki Bahin Scheme Gets Rs 319 Crore From Social Justice Fund

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has transferred Rs 319.53 crore from the Scheduled Caste component under the Social Justice Department to the Women and Child Development Department to provide the July 2026 financial instalment under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

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The government has approved the transfer of the funds to ensure that eligible women from the Scheduled Caste category receive the scheme’s financial assistance on time. The decision comes ahead of Raksha Bandhan on August 28, when the government is expected to focus on timely disbursement of the monthly benefit.

Following the verification process under the scheme, around 1.66 crore women have been found eligible, while nearly 81 lakh applicants were declared ineligible out of the total 2.47 crore applications received.

Rs 3,000 Crore Allocated For SC Component

For the current financial year, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned a total provision of Rs 3,000 crore for the Scheduled Caste component of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

From this allocation, Rs 319.53 crore has now been approved for the July 2026 instalment. The amount will be distributed through the budgetary fund distribution system to the Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department.

The government has instructed the concerned controlling officers to follow financial discipline and ensure that the sanctioned funds are spent strictly according to the approved plan within the current financial year.

Officials have also been directed to submit a detailed report after the allocated funds are utilised.

1.66 Crore Women Remain Eligible

The verification process for the Ladki Bahin Scheme was completed on April 30. Out of approximately 2.47 crore applicants, around 1.66 crore women were found eligible after verification.

Nearly 81 lakh applicants were declared ineligible following the scrutiny process.

According to the government’s eligibility framework, women who complete 65 years of age will also become ineligible for the scheme going forward.

Scheme Requires Around Rs 2,500 Crore Every Month

The monthly financial requirement for providing benefits to all eligible beneficiaries under the scheme is estimated at around Rs 2,500 crore.

The latest transfer of Rs 319.53 crore specifically relates to the Scheduled Caste component and is intended to ensure timely payment to eligible women under that category.

The development comes at a time when questions have been raised over the financial burden of the scheme on the state government. The transfer of funds from the Social Justice Department’s Scheduled Caste component to the Women and Child Development Department has therefore drawn attention to the government’s fund management for the scheme.

Raksha Bandhan Before Government Faces Payment Deadline

With Raksha Bandhan scheduled for August 28, the government is working to ensure that the monthly financial assistance reaches eligible women ahead of the festival.

When the scheme was initially launched, the government had deposited Rs 4,500 directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, covering three months of assistance as a special Raksha Bandhan benefit.

The scheme has since become one of Maharashtra’s major welfare programmes, with a large number of women depending on the monthly financial assistance.

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