The Maharashtra government has issued a final call for beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme, stating categorically that the deadline for completing the mandatory e-KYC process will not be extended beyond December 31, 2024. This announcement comes with just days remaining for over 69 lakh enrolled women to verify their details to continue receiving the monthly financial assistance.
No More Extensions, Says Minister
Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare confirmed the hard deadline in a statement on Saturday. She emphasized that while the government is committed to helping genuine beneficiaries facing difficulties, the window for completing the electronic Know Your Customer process will not be pushed forward again. "More than 1.7 crore beneficiaries have already completed e-KYC. There will be no further extension," Tatkare stated, addressing queries about a potential postponement.
The current deadline of December 31 was itself an extension from the original mid-November cutoff. The government granted the extra time after beneficiaries reported widespread technical issues, including problems receiving OTPs and failed uploads. Minister Tatkare noted that the earlier extension was granted after the administration took the glitches "with utmost seriousness."
Beneficiaries Race Against Time Amid Glitches
Despite the extension, many women across the state continue to encounter hurdles. Complaints range from not receiving one-time passwords (OTPs) to submitting details without getting any confirmation. "I did not receive my November payout and my e-KYC is still pending," shared Maya W, a beneficiary from Pune, reflecting the frustration voiced by many on social media platforms.
Official data reveals the scale of the task at hand. Out of 2.43 crore women enrolled under the scheme, approximately 1.74 crore have successfully finished their e-KYC. This leaves nearly 69 lakh beneficiaries who must complete the Aadhaar-based authentication process in the next four days to ensure uninterrupted receipt of the Rs 1,500 monthly assistance.
Verification Drive and Eligibility Safeguards
The push for mandatory e-KYC stems from a verification drive that uncovered numerous irregularities in the beneficiary list. Preliminary checks flagged lakhs of questionable entries, including about 12,000 cases where men were incorrectly listed as beneficiaries. The Aadhaar-linked authentication is designed to weed out ineligible recipients and ensure the scheme's benefits reach only qualified women.
Minister Tatkare clarified that the government is identifying ineligible cases, including government women employees who wrongly availed the benefits, and will initiate recoveries. However, she offered reassurance to women who initially used male family members' bank accounts due to a lack of their own, stating they would not be disqualified for this reason.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline and Next Steps
Women who fail to complete the e-KYC process by the year-end deadline risk a temporary pause in their monthly payments. Officials confirmed that transfers will resume once the verification is successfully completed. All payments are credited directly to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. Beneficiaries last received the October installment on November 19 and are still awaiting the November payout as December concludes.
To assist beneficiaries, the Women and Child Development Department has opened a "final window" for correcting errors made during e-KYC via the official portal: ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in. Special provisions are also in place for single women, widows, and divorced women. They can complete an offline KYC by submitting relevant documents like death certificates or court orders through their local anganwadi workers, also by the December 31 cutoff.
Launched in June 2024, the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme provides financial support to women aged 21 to 65 years from families with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh, provided they are not beneficiaries of other state welfare schemes. The initiative has sparked heated political debate in the assembly, with opposition leaders alleging irregularities and demanding an audit. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has defended the scheme, asserting it will continue and that all eligible women will receive timely payments.
