MUMBAI: The opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar) on Thursday intensified its attack on the Mahayuti government over the implementation of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, alleging that lapses in beneficiary verification led to an estimated loss of Rs 24,300 crore to the state exchequer.Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase claimed that over 80 lakh beneficiaries who received financial assistance under the flagship welfare scheme were later found to be ineligible, raising serious questions over the government’s screening and verification processes.The allegations come amid scrutiny of the scheme’s beneficiary database after the state government acknowledged that a large number of recipients did not meet eligibility criteria.According to figures cited by Tapase, nearly 81 lakh beneficiaries out of the scheme’s total 2.47 crore recipients were subsequently identified as ineligible. The list allegedly includes around 14,000 men, nearly 10 lakh income taxpayers, about five lakh government employees and several lakh vehicle owners, categories that were not entitled to receive benefits under the scheme.“The people of Maharashtra deserve answers. Was this a welfare scheme or an election campaign funded at taxpayers’ expense?” Tapase said, alleging that public funds were disbursed without adequate verification.He further claimed that the government’s reliance on self-certification by applicants before conducting detailed scrutiny amounted to an administrative failure. Referring to statements made by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the verification process, Tapase alleged that mandatory checks were deferred despite the large-scale financial outlay involved.The NCP (SP) spokesperson alleged that the verification mechanism was deliberately diluted ahead of elections to maximise enrolment under the scheme. “This was not social justice; it was the misuse of taxpayers’ money for political gains,” he claimed.The party estimated that payments made to allegedly ineligible beneficiaries had resulted in a financial burden of around Rs 24,300 crore on the state.Seeking accountability, Tapase demanded that the government publicly disclose who approved the beneficiary verification framework, which officials were responsible for identifying eligible recipients and what action would be initiated against those found negligent.He also called upon the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and NCP factions in the Mahayuti alliance to “accept moral responsibility” for the alleged financial loss.Highlighting what he described as the opportunity cost of the expenditure, Tapase said the amount could have been used for drinking water projects in drought-prone regions, irrigation infrastructure, rural roads, district hospitals and government schools.“Every rupee belongs to the taxpayers of Maharashtra. The government must explain how such a large number of ineligible beneficiaries entered the system and who will be held accountable,” he said.The Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, one of the state’s largest direct benefit transfer programmes for women, has been a key welfare initiative of the Mahayuti government. The state government has maintained that verification exercises are underway and that corrective measures are being taken to remove ineligible beneficiaries from the scheme.
