Maharashtra's Ladki Bahin scheme: Pre-poll promise, post-poll precarity for farm widows
Maharashtra's "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana," launched before the 2024 Assembly election, initially provided a vital ₹1,500 monthly financial lifeline to vulnerable women, especially farm widows in the rain-starved Marathwada region. However, post-election, the State government has deleted over 92 lakh beneficiaries based on new exclusion criteria (government employees, taxpayers, existing welfare scheme beneficiaries), turning initial security into deep anxiety. This mass deletion has reduced the original beneficiary base by nearly 38%, raising critical questions about the scheme's future and prompting women to consider older, more stable welfare programs.
Key Points
- The "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana" provided a ₹1,500 monthly aid to vulnerable women in Maharashtra, particularly farm widows.
- Post-election, the State government deleted over 92 lakh beneficiaries based on new exclusion criteria.
- This mass deletion has caused anxiety among beneficiaries and reduced the scheme's original base by 38%.
- The scheme's effectiveness and long-term stability are now questioned, leading women to seek more reliable older welfare programs.
Exam Facts
- The scheme was launched in 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly election.
- Over 92 lakh women have been removed from the beneficiary list so far.
- The scheme was modelled on a similar one in Madhya Pradesh.
- Marathwada recorded 465 farmer suicides between January and June 2026, after 1,131 such deaths in 2025.
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