Honoring mothers and sisters in Maharashtra through ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’

The Mahayuti government announced the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana Maharashtra in its additional resolution of June 2024 to improve women’s conditions, especially in economically weaker families in the state, so they can be more financially self-reliant, can take care of their health and nourishment, and education and also contribute to the economy of the societies they live. Through this scheme, the government will provide Rs. 1500 every month to every eligible woman in the state. The implementation of this scheme has started, and the Women and Child Development Department has issued a government decision in this regard on 28 June 2024.

In its last legislative assembly meeting, the Mahayuti government 1.0 presented a supplementary budget on 28 June 2024 for the interim period until the 2024 assembly election, which was less than a month away. The ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ was announced in this budget speech, with a view to immediate implementation of this scheme. The Women and Child Development Department issued a government decision on the same day about starting the scheme, highlighting the increasing anemic conditions among women in the state. It said as more than 50% of women in the state were found anemic, and the employment rate among women in the state was 28.70% compared to 59.10% among men, the Mahayuti government decided to improve the economic and health conditions of women through various schemes including the ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana,’ which aimed at improving the health and nutrition of women in the state and strengthening their decisive role in the family.

Understanding the purpose of the scheme

Whether she is a Bahu or Maa, a woman is the fulcrum of a family. So improving their lives is crucial for the improvement of families and society at large. The main objective of the  Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is to empower the women in the family so they can take care of themselves in terms of health and nourishment, education, and even take the path of self-employment to contribute to their families. 

Who benefits from the scheme?

Under this scheme, women of the state will be provided financial assistance of Rs 1500 per month. This amount will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. At first, it was decided that women from 21 to 60 years of age would be eligible for the scheme. However,  the government later extended the Ladki Bahin Yojana age limit up to 65 years. All women, whether married, widowed, divorced, deserted, or destitute, within the age group of 21 to 65 years in the state are eligible for the scheme. However, the annual income of the applicant’s family should not exceed Rs. 2,50,000/- and each applicant must have an Aadhar-linked bank account for direct credit of the amount. The Department of Women and Child Development amended a few rules on 2 July 2024, which were taken in the government decisions dated 24 June 2024. Under the new rules, the government relaxed the condition of domicile certificates, which was earlier necessary for eligibility in the scheme. 

Ladki Bahin Yojana documents

Even if one does not have a domicile certificate, she can submit any one of the following documents to prove her eligibility:

• Ration card, issued before 15 years
• Voter ID card, issued before 15 years
• School leaving certificate
• Birth certificate. 

The condition of 5 acres of farmland ownership was also withdrawn from the eligibility criteria for the Ladki-Bahin scheme 

Applications can also be submitted online

Eligible women may apply online to register for the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme through multiple means, such as the web portal or mobile app for the scheme, or Setu Suvidha Kendra. Women who are unable to apply online may do so at the nearest Anganwadi Center. The application through the Anganwadi Center is completely free of charge, however, the candidate herself needs to be present while applying. If the applicant was not born in Maharashtra, but is married to a man domiciled in Maharashtra, then her husband’s birth certificate, school leaving certificate or domicile certificate will have to be attached.

Money will be deposited in the account on the 15th of every month

The application process for this scheme started on July 1, 2024. As stated in the government decision, the application deadline was initially set for July 15. However, due to the high demand for registration and application, the deadline was extended to August 31, then September 30, and finally October 15. As a result, the publication of eligible beneficiaries and the final list was belated. However, once the list was complete the funds under the scheme were distributed to all eligible mothers and sisters in phases.