Over 10,000 Applications Rejected Under Ladki Bahin Yojana In Pune

Pune, 12th December 2024: The Women and Child Welfare Department has rejected more than 10,000 applications under the Ladki Bahin Yojana in Pune district following a detailed scrutiny process. The scheme, launched by the Mahayuti government five months ago, aims to provide financial support to women with an annual income of less than ₹2.5 lakh, provided they have not availed benefits from any other government scheme.

Officials revealed that many applicants failed to meet the eligibility criteria. Of the over 21 lakh applications submitted as of 15th October, 9,814 were deemed ineligible due to significant discrepancies. Additionally, 5,724 applications were provisionally rejected for minor errors, with applicants granted an opportunity to rectify these issues.

According to reports from the Zilla Parishad, 69,175 applications remain pending for Aadhaar-linked bank account verification. Despite these challenges, 20,84,364 women in the district have already received benefits under the scheme.

Key reasons for application rejections include incomplete or incorrect details in forms, mismatched photographs, lack of Aadhaar linkage to bank accounts, annual incomes exceeding ₹2.5 lakh, and ownership of four-wheelers. Additionally, several applicants were found to be income tax payers, further disqualifying them from the scheme.

The scrutiny process, which was delayed due to the election code of conduct, resumed recently and has achieved a 99.43% completion rate. Around 12,000 applications are still under review.

The Ladki Bahin Yojana garnered an overwhelming response from women across the district, highlighting the need for targeted welfare programs. However, the high number of ineligible applications underscores the importance of strict adherence to guidelines and verification processes to ensure benefits reach the intended recipients.