Maharashtra Slashes Ladki Bahin Scheme Budget, Faces Backlash Over Stipend Uncertainty

Maharashtra’s Ladki Bahin Yojana Gets Squeezed by Budget Cuts

The Ladki Bahin Yojana in Maharashtra has always been pitched as a lifeline for women, a financial cushion aimed at boosting independence and security. But now, as the state grapples with tighter purse strings, the scheme’s latest budget trim—from ₹46,000 crore to ₹36,000 crore for 2025-26—has set off alarms for lakhs of beneficiaries, rattled political circles, and raised tough questions about the government’s priorities.

Whispers about possible stipend reductions surfaced quickly after the budget announcement. Some reports even floated the idea that monthly assistance could fall as low as ₹1,000 per beneficiary, a far cry from the ₹2,100 figure the government had promised during elections. That figure was meant to illustrate commitment, a signal to women voters that the leadership was invested in both their well-being and economic freedom.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis moved to stamp out the panic, publicly stressing that no official decision has been made to cut stipends so drastically. According to him, everyone who qualifies under the scheme can still count on receiving their payments as usual. What’s more, he doubled down on the pledge to hit the ₹2,100 mark each month, an amount the government had trumpeted in the run-up to the last state election. Fadnavis positioned this as proof that the Ladki Bahin Yojana remains a top priority—despite the state’s swelling debt and a tight budget overall.

Muddy Waters: Who Qualifies and What Do They Get?

But the water’s far from clear. While the highest profile beneficiaries might eventually see those ₹2,100 monthly transfers, recent government updates carved out a new subset of recipients who’ll only get ₹500 per month—at least for now. The rules about who falls into which category are changing, with eligibility criteria under persistent review. For some families, the disappointment is palpable: they’d hoped for a substantial financial boost, but suddenly they’re staring at a stipend barely enough to cover basic groceries.

This shifting ground has given critics plenty of ammunition. Uddhav Thackeray and other opposition leaders haven’t held back, accusing the government of walking back on its big promises to women. They argue that the trimmed budget and murky payout plans add up to broken faith, especially at a time when inflation is piling up pressure on household budgets across Maharashtra.

The state government says it’s working to tighten up the system and get rid of fraud. Authorities started using cross-verification through income tax data to make sure only genuine cases get the money, aiming for efficiency while stopping false claims. They argue it’s a necessary step, given the razor-thin margin the treasury is operating under these days. Already, some beneficiaries flagged through these checks have seen their status paused while state officials wade through a mountain of paperwork and appeals.

For women still in the scheme, there’s a nervous wait. The promise of ₹2,100 hangs in the balance, tangled up with paperwork, fiscal worries, and political arguments. For now, the only certainty is that the future of the Ladki Bahin Yojana—and its promise of economic empowerment for Maharashtra’s women—remains up in the air.