The crucial December 31 deadline for completing the mandatory eKYC process under the Mukhyamantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is poised for another extension, according to senior politicians and state officials. This potential move comes just ahead of the municipal corporation elections in Pune, anticipated in mid-January.
Political Imperatives and Verification Drive
The Women and Child Development (WCD) department has made the electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification compulsory to confirm eligibility for the Rs 1,500 monthly financial assistance. The primary goal is to ensure the scheme's benefits reach only genuine beneficiaries. Official data reveals a significant gap: out of the total 2.4 crore women enrolled, approximately 1.7 crore have completed their eKYC, leaving a staggering 69 lakh beneficiaries yet to verify their details.
While the WCD department's official stance maintains December 31 as the cut-off, officials privately acknowledge that an extension seems unavoidable if a large number of women remain outside the eKYC net. District-wise progress is being monitored daily, and the deadline will be reconsidered based on the pending numbers, a senior official stated.
Election Dynamics and Scheme's Political Shadow
Politicians across the spectrum believe the ruling alliance is unlikely to enforce a strict deadline with civic polls on the horizon. The Ladki Bahin Yojana is widely credited with contributing to the ruling coalition's victory in the recent state assembly elections. A senior politician noted that any disruption in payments before the municipal polls could carry serious political repercussions, and even a temporary halt might upset the core beneficiary base. An aggressive drive to remove ineligible beneficiaries at this juncture could politically backfire.
The scheme faced intense scrutiny in the state legislative assembly last week, sparking heated exchanges. Opposition parties accused the government of large-scale irregularities in its implementation. Congress MLA Sunil Prabhu demanded an audit and a white paper, alleging that eligibility norms were diluted to boost enrolment numbers. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil called for accountability from officials who approved applications without proper scrutiny, while Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav staged a walkout, accusing the government of misleading voters.
Government's Stance and Clarifications
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly defended the scheme, assuring the legislative assembly that it would not be discontinued and that all eligible beneficiaries would continue to receive timely payments. He also hinted at a future increase in the assistance amount, to be announced at an "appropriate time."
Addressing common hurdles, WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare, via a social media post, informed beneficiaries that those who entered incorrect details during eKYC could rectify them on the scheme's official portal. She provided clarifications for specific cases: beneficiaries with deceased fathers or husbands can submit death certificates, and divorced women may provide copies of court orders or divorce decrees to fulfil the mandatory Aadhaar authentication requirement of a parent or spouse.
Minister Tatkare also informed the House that the department has begun the process of identifying ineligible beneficiaries and will initiate recovery proceedings. This includes women who are government employees but availed of the scheme. In a surprising revelation, she stated that around 12,000 men had been identified as beneficiaries and are under verification. However, she clarified that women who use bank accounts of male family members due to the lack of personal accounts will not be disqualified.
As the political temperature rises in Pune ahead of the civic polls, the fate of the eKYC deadline hangs in the balance, caught between administrative necessity and electoral calculus.
