In a move to curb fraudulent claims, the Maharashtra government has tightened the verification process for the Mukhyamantri Mazi Ladki Bahin Yojana, a welfare scheme that provides Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women. The crackdown comes after widespread reports of ineligible beneficiaries, including thousands of government employees, receiving the benefit, reports said.
To strengthen eligibility checks, the Income Tax Department will now share taxpayer data with the state바카라s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department. The data-sharing initiative was authorized through a notification issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on June 3, under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
This is one of the rare instances where central tax data is being shared with a state government specifically for welfare verification purposes. Officials say the goal is to ensure that the monthly allowance reaches only economically disadvantaged women.
The scheme, launched in August 2024, came under scrutiny after audits revealed thousands of fake claims, including 2,289 government employees fraudulently enrolled as beneficiaries.
Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, addressing the issue on June 2, admitted to lapses in the initial implementation. 바카라It was a mistake on our part to give benefits to all women without sufficient verification. At the time, we were short on time as elections were approaching in 2바카라3 months,바카라 he said.
While the state government has ruled out recovering funds already disbursed, it is now focused on implementing stricter checks going forward, using tax data as a key filter.
The move is expected to serve as a deterrent against future misuse and to restore the integrity of a scheme designed to empower economically weaker women across Maharashtra.
