Ladki Bahin scheme: NCP-SP claims loss of ₹24,000 crore as ‘80 lakh beneficiaries found ineligible’

Key points

• The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) alleged a loss of over ₹24,000 crore after ineligible beneficiaries were found under the Maharashtra government's flagship Ladki Bahin scheme.
• The government claimed that around 80 lakh women were found ineligible for benefits during verification.
• "How did the BJP-led government, which claims to be committed to transparency and good governance, allow such massive misuse of public money?" Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase was quoted by PTI as saying.
• “As per available figures, nearly 81 lakh beneficiaries out of the total 2.47 crore recipients of the flagship scheme have been found ineligible after funds had already been disbursed,” he said.
• "Those found ineligible include approximately 14,000 men, nearly 10 lakh taxpayers, 5 lakh government employees, and several lakh vehicle owners," Tapase added.