Devendra Fadnavis Government Hints Ladki Bahin Scheme Scrutiny; Opposition Slams (image: x.com/Dev_Fadnavis)

Mumbai: As Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has hinted that Mahayuti‘s flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana will undergo scrutiny that only eligible candidates get the benefit, it has sparked huge backlash from the Opposition. The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP forewarned the government against harassing women, who have already received benefits, by questioning their eligibility.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut has criticised Chief Minister for reviewing the scheme in order to ensure that only eligible women beneficiaries receive assistance.“Now that you have on your own given money to the beneficiaries without strictly implementing the norms for the sake of getting votes, you don’t have the right to take back the money. The Government should ensure that it does not issue notice and cause harassment to the womenfolk,” Raut told the Indian Express.

Fadnavis’s statement suggest that the government might launch a “witch hunt” against Maharashtra women, he added. Continuing further, Raut before the elections, the Mahayuti government wanted to woo the women voters. Hence, they did not cross-check the documents submitted by the women and evaluated whether they meet the eligibility criteria. “Now that the Mahayuti Government has come to power by doling out cash, the government should not behave in a selfish manner. It should not only continue the scheme, but should ensure that women are not subjected to any form of scrutiny,” he said.

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NCP (SP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said that if the Mahayuti government harrasses women by demanding them to return the money or remove those already benefitted from it will have to face the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s outrage. “We will take to the street, we will launch an agitation against the government if subjects womenfolk to any form of harassment in the name of strictly implementing the scheme,” Indian Express quotes, as Tapase is saying. Pointing the pitfalls, the Tapase said that direct cash transfer scheme was supposed to serve women from poor families but the government extended it to women from wealthy class without verifying the documents properly. Tapase said that the Fadnavis government should now keep its word of giving Rs 2100 to women beneficiaries every month.

In the first press conference after assuming office, Fadnavis stressed that the scheme would continue, increasing the stipend to Rs 2,100 as promised but implied that scrutiny will be held to ensure that benefits only reach to eligible women.