Pune: State govt is set to conduct a comprehensive verification of beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, leveraging income tax return data from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to ensure that the monthly Rs 1,500 aid reaches only economically weaker women.A notification issued by the CBDT on June 3 authorises the secretary of the state women and child development (WCD) department to access income tax (I-T) data under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The department has already formed a team to review the existing list of 2.5 crore applicants. Officials said the verification would help identify and remove ineligible claimants, particularly those from families with higher incomes or tax-paying members.Earlier, a scrutiny of around 2 lakh applications had revealed that 2,289 government employees had registered under the scheme. These names were promptly removed. State WCD minister Aditi Tatkare had described such verification as a routine and necessary process in the implementation of welfare schemes. The Ladki Bahin Yojana is targeted at women from low-income families, including married, widowed, divorced, abandoned and single, between the ages of 21 and 65. Eligible applicants must reside in Maharashtra, have an Aadhaar-linked bank account and belong to families with annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh.Women will be deemed ineligible if their family members are income taxpayers or are employed as regular or permanent staff in govt departments or public undertakings. Those receiving pensions, owning four-wheelers (excluding tractors) or already benefiting from other govt schemes of Rs 1,500 or more per month will also be excluded. Families of current or former MPs, MLAs or individuals holding top positions in govt boards or corporations are similarly disqualified.The officials said the integration of verified I-T data would make the screening process more accurate, reduce fraudulent claims and ensure that benefits reach the right individuals.At present, the department has 2.52 crore beneficiaries. “We have pushed the funds to accounts but it is likely that 2.47 crore would have received it,” a source from the department said. Around Rs 3,719 crore was allocated for May under this scheme.CM Fadnavis says there is no diversion of funds from departmentsCM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday told TOI that no funds from any govt department were diverted towards Ladki Bahin scheme. A section of ruling party politicians, as well as the opposition, had criticized state govt for alleged diversion of funds from key departments to sustain the Ladki Bahin scheme. On June 5, a social justice department GR stating diversion of Rs 410 crore had triggered further discussions. When asked, Fadnavis in a text message reply to TOI said, “All the schemes in which individual benefit goes to SC and ST are to be shown under tribal and social welfare department respectively. It is the budget principle and deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is also the finance minister, while preparing the budget has showed the same. Hence, the budget given to both departments increased significantly. It’s not that their regular funds are being diverted or utilised for this scheme.“Pune: State govt is set to conduct a comprehensive verification of beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, leveraging income tax return data from the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to ensure that the monthly Rs 1,500 aid reaches only economically weaker women.A notification issued by the CBDT on June 3 authorises the secretary of the state women and child development (WCD) department to access income tax (I-T) data under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The department has already formed a team to review the existing list of 2.5 crore applicants. Officials said the verification would help identify and remove ineligible claimants, particularly those from families with higher incomes or tax-paying members.Earlier, a scrutiny of around 2 lakh applications had revealed that 2,289 government employees had registered under the scheme. These names were promptly removed. State WCD minister Aditi Tatkare had described such verification as a routine and necessary process in the implementation of welfare schemes. The Ladki Bahin Yojana is targeted at women from low-income families, including married, widowed, divorced, abandoned and single, between the ages of 21 and 65. Eligible applicants must reside in Maharashtra, have an Aadhaar-linked bank account and belong to families with annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh.Women will be deemed ineligible if their family members are income taxpayers or are employed as regular or permanent staff in govt departments or public undertakings. Those receiving pensions, owning four-wheelers (excluding tractors) or already benefiting from other govt schemes of Rs 1,500 or more per month will also be excluded. Families of current or former MPs, MLAs or individuals holding top positions in govt boards or corporations are similarly disqualified.The officials said the integration of verified I-T data would make the screening process more accurate, reduce fraudulent claims and ensure that benefits reach the right individuals.At present, the department has 2.52 crore beneficiaries. “We have pushed the funds to accounts but it is likely that 2.47 crore would have received it,” a source from the department said. Around Rs 3,719 crore was allocated for May under this scheme.CM Fadnavis says there is no diversion of funds from departmentsCM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday told TOI that no funds from any govt department were diverted towards Ladki Bahin scheme. A section of ruling party politicians, as well as the opposition, had criticized state govt for alleged diversion of funds from key departments to sustain the Ladki Bahin scheme. On June 5, a social justice department GR stating diversion of Rs 410 crore had triggered further discussions. When asked, Fadnavis in a text message reply to TOI said, “All the schemes in which individual benefit goes to SC and ST are to be shown under tribal and social welfare department respectively. It is the budget principle and deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who is also the finance minister, while preparing the budget has showed the same. Hence, the budget given to both departments increased significantly. It’s not that their regular funds are being diverted or utilised for this scheme.“
