Governance Failures in Ladki Bahin Yojana: Key Takeaways

Context : Over 26 lakh ineligible beneficiaries, including 14,000 men, received funds under Maharashtra’s Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, exposing major governance lapses.

Key Issues:

• Misuse of Funds: Welfare meant for underprivileged women diverted to ineligible recipients.
• Poor Targeting: Weak Aadhaar seeding & data integration led to inclusion errors.
• Administrative Failure: No cross-verification before disbursement.
• Political Motives: Launched near elections, raising concerns of populist spending.
• Ethical Breach: Erosion of public trust in welfare schemes.

Way Forward:

✅ AI-driven eligibility checks using Aadhaar, income, and welfare databases
✅ Gender authentication to block male enrollments in women-only schemes
✅ Citizen-led audits for transparency and accountability
✅ Policy rationalization to reduce scheme overlaps
✅ Real-time digital monitoring to curb leakage

Conclusion: Towards Smarter, Inclusive, and Ethical Welfare Delivery

The Ladki Bahin Yojana fallout underscores the critical need for technology-driven governance, ethical accountability, and non-partisan policy design. By leveraging digital public infrastructure, enforcing strict eligibility filters, and promoting citizen oversight, Maharashtra can transform its welfare ecosystem into a model of inclusive, transparent, and efficient governance.