Fact Check: No Unjust Removal of 5 Lakh Women from Ladli Behna Yojana, Disqualifications Based on Pre-Existing Criteria

Social media users are sharing a graphic claiming that the Maharashtra government has unjustly removed the names of 5 lakh women from the prosperous Ladli Behna scheme. They allege that the government has deceived the women of Maharashtra by disqualifying them from the scheme.

Journalist Saurabh posted, ‘2 lakh beneficiaries of Ladli Behna Yojana will be ineligible this month. 5 lakh women have already been declared ineligible. One should not laugh but after reading all this, one feels like laughing. Despite seeing this condition of Maharashtra, their government has been formed in Delhi.’

लाडली बहना योजना के 2 लाख लाभार्थी इस महीने होंगे अपात्र
5 लाख महिलाएं पहले ही अयोग्य घोषित हो चुकी हैं।
हंसना तो नहीं चाहिए लेकिन ये सब पढ़कर हंसी आ रही है। महाराष्ट्र का ये हाल देखकर भी दिल्ली में इनकी सरकार बनाई गई है। pic.twitter.com/DgoojNFlSi

— Saurabh (@sauravyadav1133) February 21, 2025

Mini Nagree stated, ‘BJP government cheated the women of Maharashtra! Before the election: Promise to give ₹ 2,100 every month under ‘Ladki Behan Yojana’, Rs 200 crore spent on advertising . After the election: Names of 9 lakh women are being removed from the scheme, Conspiracy to exclude lakhs of women under the guise of rulesElections are over, promises are missing – betrayal of our beloved sisters!’

BJP सरकार ने महाराष्ट्र की महिलाओं को ठगा!

चुनाव से पहले:
▶️ 'लाडकी बहिन योजना' के तहत हर महीने ₹2,100 देने का वादा
▶️ प्रचार में ₹200 करोड़ खर्च किए

चुनाव के बाद:
❌ 9 लाख महिलाओं के नाम योजना से काटे जा रहे
❌ नियमों की आड़ में लाखों महिलाओं को बाहर करने की साजिश

चुनाव… pic.twitter.com/QIOynBfQXV

— Mini Nagrare (@MiniforIYC) February 23, 2025

Kishan shared, ‘2 LAKH Beneficiaries Of #LadliBehnaYojana Will Be INELIGIBLE this month. Last Month 5 LAKH Women Were Already DISQUALIFIED. Hope women’s who voted #MahaYuti Govt to power in greed of #LadliBehnaYojana are enjoying Double Engine #Maharashtra Govt of @PMOIndia CM @Dev_Fadnavis’

लाडली बहना योजना के 2 लाख लाभार्थी इस महीने होंगे अपात्र
5 लाख महिलाएं पहले ही अयोग्य घोषित हो चुकी हैं।
हंसना तो नहीं चाहिए लेकिन ये सब पढ़कर हंसी आ रही है। महाराष्ट्र का ये हाल देखकर भी दिल्ली में इनकी सरकार बनाई गई है। फिर ये योग्य कैसे थे चुनाव से पहले??? pic.twitter.com/g1T5Y5MX6I

— KAUSHAL CHOUDHARY (@KAUSHAL52711756) February 22, 2025

Congress Sevadal, Ashwani, Chandan, Kaushal Chaudhary and Deepak Kumar Jain also shared a similar claim.

Fact Check

We began our fact-checking process by conducting a relevant Google search on the topic. During our search, we found a report published by Navbharat Times on February 21, 2025. According to the report, ‘The number of ineligible beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana is expected to increase further. Senior ministry officials stated that after the ongoing verification process across the state, more than two lakh beneficiaries will be declared ineligible this month. Last month, around five lakh women were already disqualified from the scheme. Among them, 2.3 lakh were beneficiaries of the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana, and 1.1 lakh were women above the age of 65.’

The Navbharat Times report further mentioned, ‘The Mahayuti government had announced the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana before the assembly elections, with a plan to provide eligible women with a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500. This scheme proved beneficial for Mahayuti during the elections, with approximately 2.31 crore women qualifying for the scheme. However, during the screening process conducted in various districts this February, the number of ineligible candidates increased.

Following the verification process, around two lakh women were declared ineligible, and a detailed report was submitted to the Women and Child Development Department. Ministry sources confirmed that the ineligible beneficiaries included women who had reached the age of 65 and those who owned four-wheelers.

Before the assembly elections, lump-sum instalments were distributed to beneficiaries. However, the government later discovered that some women who did not meet the eligibility criteria were also availing of benefits. To address this, a verification campaign was launched. As a result, approximately five lakh women were disqualified, including 2.3 lakh beneficiaries of the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana and 1.1 lakh women aged above 65. Additionally, 1.6 lakh women voluntarily withdrew their names from the scheme. Among the total five lakh disqualified beneficiaries, many were also recipients of the Namo Shakti Yojana, and their family members owned four-wheelers.’

Furthermore, we found an Economic Times report dated August 16, which outlined the eligibility and disqualification criteria for the Ladli Behna Yojana. According to the report:

Eligibility Criteria for the Mazi Ladki Bahin Scheme

• Women residing in Maharashtra are eligible to apply.

• The applicant must be a permanent resident of Maharashtra.

• Female applicants must be between 21 and 65 years old.

• Married, unmarried, abandoned, divorced, and destitute women are eligible.

• The applicant must have a bank account in her name.

• The family’s total annual income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh.

Disqualification Criteria

• Families with an annual income exceeding ₹2.5 lakh.

• Families with an income tax-paying member.

• Families with regular or permanent employees in government departments, undertakings, boards, or local bodies, or those receiving pensions after retirement. However, outsourced, voluntary, and contract workers with an income up to ₹2.5 lakh remain eligible.

• Women already receiving ₹1,500 or more per month from other government financial schemes.

• Women whose family members are current or former MPs/MLAs.

• Women whose family members hold positions such as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Director, or Member of a Board, Corporation, or Undertaking under the Central or State Government.

• Women whose family members own a four-wheeler (excluding tractors).

Additionally, we previously fact-checked two misleading claims related to this scheme. One false claim suggested that the Maharashtra government recently decided to disqualify women whose families owned four-wheelers. However, the truth is that this disqualification criterion has been in place since the scheme’s inception. Another misleading claim stated that 20 lakh beneficiaries would be removed from the scheme. Our fact-check revealed that these 20 lakh women were already beneficiaries of other government schemes, which is a valid reason for disqualification under the scheme’s original criteria.