Controversy Erupts as 5 Lakh Women Dropped From Chhattisgarh's Mahatari Vandan Yojana: Government Cites Verification Process

Prime Minister Modi had virtually launched the scheme from Raipur in 2024.

Chhattisgarh's Mahatari Vandan Yojana, a flagship women-centric welfare initiative introduced by the Vishnu Deo Sai government, has become the epicenter of significant political controversy. Initially celebrated as a transformative program for women's empowerment across the state, the scheme now faces intense scrutiny following reports that nearly five lakh beneficiaries have been removed from its rolls within just a few months, though the state government has issued clarifications regarding this matter.

In 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the program through a virtual event in Raipur, facilitating the direct transfer of Rs 655.57 crore to more than 70.12 lakh women throughout Chhattisgarh. The Mahatari Vandan Yojana, which provides monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 to women aged 21 and above, was a key electoral promise made by the BJP during the 2023 Assembly elections. However, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah distributed the 20th installment in October this year, official data revealed that only 64.94 lakh women received payments, indicating a reduction of approximately five lakh beneficiaries.

This substantial decrease has fueled aggressive criticism from the Congress party, which has accused the ruling BJP of betraying women voters who were instrumental in bringing them to power.

Congress spokesperson Dhananjay Singh Thakur claimed that thousands of names have been arbitrarily removed without proper explanation. "When the Prime Minister launched this program, 70 lakh women received the initial installment. However, during the 20th installment, more than five lakh women were excluded. The BJP had promised benefits for every woman in the state, but after forming the government, they implemented new restrictions and exclusions. This represents a betrayal of Chhattisgarh's women," Thakur stated.

The Congress party has demanded complete transparency, calling for the publication of all excluded names and the specific reasons for their removal, alleging that legitimate beneficiaries have been eliminated under the pretext of data verification.

On-the-ground reports confirm that numerous women have experienced payment delays or complete cessation despite previously receiving regular transfers. "Funds used to arrive every month, but nothing has come this time. With Diwali approaching, the money would have helped us celebrate properly," said Sangeeta Dubey, a beneficiary from Raipur.

Another recipient, Renu Kumari from Dhamtari, mentioned that her payments were temporarily suspended before briefly resuming. "We submitted our documents again and received payment, but nothing has arrived this month," she explained. Similarly, Momina Khatoon from Bilaspur reported not receiving funds for four consecutive months. Their experiences mirror thousands of others across districts including Raipur, Durg, Korba, and Surguja, where beneficiaries claim they've been left uninformed about their status.

The state government has rejected allegations of discrimination and mismanagement. Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade maintained that the reduction stems from routine verification processes and data correction measures designed to ensure program transparency.

"Monthly verification identified approximately 64,858 deceased beneficiaries, 707 women who voluntarily withdrew, and 40,728 duplicate entries that were subsequently removed. For nearly 4 lakh women, bank e-KYC verification remains pending. Their payments will resume once this process is completed. The portal will soon reopen to accommodate new beneficiaries," Rajwade explained, emphasizing that there has been no reduction in the scheme's budget or commitment.

Despite these explanations, questions persist regarding why verification and e-KYC processes weren't completed promptly, particularly when they directly impact lakhs of women dependent on this monthly assistance. Critics contend that what the government describes as "verification" effectively amounts to exclusion, a process that penalizes legitimate beneficiaries for administrative inefficiencies.

For beneficiaries like Sangeeta and Momina, the issue transcends politics or verification procedures—it's about broken trust. "If the government could ensure money reached our accounts before elections, why can't they do so now when we need it most?" Sangeeta questioned.

As festival season approaches, one question remains unanswered: What happened to the five lakh women removed from the Mahatari Vandan Yojana list? While the government describes it as a verification issue, the opposition labels it betrayal. For thousands of women awaiting the Rs 1,000 that once arrived reliably, the silence carries both political and personal implications.