Ladki Bahin Yojana: Will Maharashtra Govt Discontinue Rs 1500 Scheme?

Is Maharashtra's flagship welfare promise beginning to look financially unsustainable? The question has gained traction after the Bombay High Court recently delivered sharp criticism of the state government over its failure to pay pensions to retired employees on time.

In unusually candid remarks, a bench of Justices Ravindra Ghughe and Abhay Mantri suggested that if the state is indeed grappling with a financial crunch, it ought to reconsider its spending priorities - including the much-publicised Ladki Bahin Yojana.

Launched ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections by former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the scheme promises ₹1,500 per month to eligible women. While politically significant, it comes at a steep cost, with the state reportedly spending around ₹40,000 crore annually.

The court's observations came during a hearing on a petition filed by a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) education department employee, who is yet to receive her provident fund and pension dues under the Seventh Pay Commission. The BMC, in its defence, pointed to a lack of funds, attributing delays to insufficient financial support from the state.

The bench was unimpressed. It criticised the government for failing to release adequate funds, thereby leaving employees in limbo, and stressed that pension, gratuity and provident fund payments are not optional obligations but essential commitments.

What stood out, however, was the court's direct line of questioning: if funds are scarce, why does the government continue to pour vast sums into the Ladki Bahin scheme? The judges went as far as suggesting that the scheme could be discontinued to clear pending dues, a remark that has inevitably triggered wider debate.

In a particularly striking moment, the bench remarked that if financial distress is genuine, the state should consider liquidating its own assets - from office furniture to air conditioners - and even selling the official vehicle of the BMC Commissioner, if necessary, to ensure that rightful dues are paid. The underlying message was clear: citizens who have earned their entitlements must not be made to wait.

The court has now directed the authorities to file an affidavit committing to a timeline for payment.

Meanwhile, subtle shifts are already visible in the implementation of the Ladki Bahin Yojana itself. The government has begun tightening eligibility criteria, leading to a noticeable drop in beneficiaries - from 2.43 lakh at the time of its rollout to 1.72 lakh now. For many women, this has meant a sudden loss of financial support.

At the same time, the scheme continues to evolve administratively. Beneficiaries have been required to complete an eKYC process to continue receiving payments, with the deadline now extended to 30 April 2026. The extension, announced by Women and Child Development Minister Aditi S. Tatkare, was attributed to disruptions caused by unseasonal rains and hailstorms, as well as requests from beneficiaries.

Framed as "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin", the scheme aims to support women aged 21 to 65 from low-income households (earning up to ₹2.5 lakh annually), providing direct benefit transfers to promote financial independence and improve access to healthcare, nutrition and education.

Yet, the High Court's remarks have introduced an uncomfortable question into the public discourse: can the state afford both its welfare ambitions and its existing obligations?

For now, the Ladki Bahin Yojana remains in place. There are no reasons to worry even as fiscal pressures mount and judicial scrutiny intensifies.

The government has not made any announcement on discontinuing it and this is the scheme that helped the NDA government to return to power.