Launched ahead of the 2023 Madhya Pradesh assembly elections and projected as one of the state government’s flagship welfare schemes for women, the Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana is now witnessing a steady decline in the number of beneficiaries, while fresh registrations remain closed.
Government data shows more than 6.25 lakh women have dropped out of the beneficiary pool since the scheme was rolled out.
The issue has also come up in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar had asked when registration of newly eligible women would begin. The scheme has also remained one of the BJP government’s most prominent political and social outreach programmes among women. The scheme has, however, also been at the centre of political controversies following statements by ministers linking government events with beneficiary participation. Cabinet Minister Vijay Shah also came under criticism over a similar statement during a District Development Advisory Committee meeting in Ratlam. He also suggested that applications of women who did not attend be withheld.
Government data shows more than 6.25 lakh women have dropped out of the beneficiary pool since the scheme was rolled out. At its current scale, the Ladli Behna Yojana is estimated to cost the state around Rs 22,680 crore, making it one of the most expensive welfare programmes in Madhya Pradesh. Addressing the gathering, Verma said that 894 Ladli Behna beneficiaries in Dhamanda village were receiving Rs 1,500 every month but only a small number had turned up at the programme.
In response, Women and Child Development Minister Nirmala Bhuria said it is not possible to provide a timeframe for opening fresh registrations under the scheme. Shah said that since crores of rupees were being spent under the Ladli Behna Yojana, beneficiaries should show respect to the Chief Minister by attending government programmes.
