State Government of Madhya Pradesh to Carry Out Verification of Ladli Behna Recipients to Eliminate Unqualified Individuals
The Madhya Pradesh government has announced that the revised monthly incentive under the Ladli Behna scheme will come into force after the upcoming Diwali festival. The scheme, a flagship initiative of the state government, was introduced by the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan administration three months before the 2023 Assembly elections.
The incumbent minister of Madhya Pradesh, Malini Gaur, made the announcement while disbursing the 28th installment of the scheme amounting to Rs 1,541 crore to 1.26 crore women beneficiaries. The monthly incentive under the Ladli Behna scheme is scheduled to be increased from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500 on October 23, 2023 (Bhai Dooj).
However, the state urban development minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, has indicated that complaints have been received regarding ineligible beneficiaries being enrolled in the Ladli Behna scheme. To address this issue, the government is considering an audit of beneficiaries under the Ladli Behna scheme to remove ineligible names.
The audit process is still in progress, and ineligible beneficiaries will first be asked to give up their claims through a public appeal. If they fail to do so, a departmental scrutiny will follow to remove their names from the scheme.
The Ladli Behna scheme was introduced in response to a promise made by Kamal Nath, the then Madhya Pradesh Congress president and former chief minister, who had pledged to provide a monthly incentive of Rs 1,000 to women if Congress returned to power in the state in the 2023 polls.
The total amount disbursed under the scheme by the Madhya Pradesh government so far is Rs 41,000 crore. The scheme has been a significant factor in helping the BJP retain power in Madhya Pradesh in the 2023 Assembly polls.
In addition, the government has also planned to increase the monthly incentive under the Ladli Behna scheme to Rs 3,000 per month in phases. However, the details of this plan have not been disclosed yet.
The Madhya Pradesh government's efforts to ensure the fair distribution of the Ladli Behna scheme and its plan to increase the incentive demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of women in the state. The audit process and the public appeal for ineligible beneficiaries to give up their claims are expected to help maintain the integrity of the scheme and ensure that it benefits those it was intended for.
