According to the analysis of 2.5 crore members of the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme, only 4.7% of women beneficiaries in Maharashtra are widows, while 83% are married women. 11.8% accounts of unmarried women. Divorced, destitute and deserted women collectively account for less than 1% of beneficiaries, data shows. Divorced women are 0.3% of total beneficiaries and deserted women are 0.2% and destitute women 0.1% of the total count.
The highest percentage of Laki Bahin beneficiaries are women between 30 and 39, which is 29% of the total. 25.51% of women are in the age group between 21 and 29, while the 40-49 year group accounted for 23.6%. 78% of beneficiaries fell between the 21-39 year age group, and 22% fell in the 50-65 year age group. The 60-65 year age group accounted for almost 5% of beneficiaries, reported TOI.
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Maharashtra's Pune topped the list of Ladki Bahin applications, followed by Nashik and Ahmednagar district. In the Konkan region, Sindhudurg had the lowest number; in the Vidarbha region, Gadchiroli had the fewest applications.
Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana scheme monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in Maharashtra between ages of 21 and 65 years, whose annual family income is below Rs 2.5 lakh and who are domiciled in the state. One eligible unmarried woman from each family can also be considered.
The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the state had promised to increase monthly assistance from Rs 1,500 to 2,100 during the campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly election 2024. However, the Rs 21,00 increase will be applied after the state's Budget Session 2025-26, which is scheduled to take place in March 2025.