Ladli Behna Yojana Faces Financial Strain, Beneficiary Numbers Drop in Madhya Pradesh

The Ladli Behna Yojana, a flagship scheme of the Madhya Pradesh government launched in June 2023, is facing significant financial and administrative challenges. The program, designed to provide direct cash assistance to women from economically weaker sections, initially offered ₹1,000 per month to eligible women aged 21 to 60. At its peak, it supported 1.34 crore women. However, the number of beneficiaries has dropped to 1.27 crore by April 2025, a reduction of 7 lakh, primarily due to women crossing the 60-year age limit. No new beneficiaries have been added in the past 23 months, raising concerns about the scheme’s sustainability.

Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who launched the scheme, had promised to increase the monthly aid to ₹3,000, but the amount was only raised to ₹1,250 since September 2023. The current Chief Minister, Dr. Mohan Yadav, has assured that the scheme will continue, but the state is struggling to fund it, with monthly costs estimated at ₹47 crore. The scheme’s portal now allows beneficiaries to voluntarily opt out, sparking speculation that the government may scale back or replace the program, possibly after the Bihar Assembly elections in October 2025. Congress spokesperson Mithun Ahirwar has claimed that the ruling BJP and bureaucrats are hesitant to maintain the scheme, despite its transparent direct bank transfers reducing misuse.

In the 2025-26 budget, the scheme’s allocation was cut to ₹18,669 crore from ₹18,984 crore, though it now includes insurance and pension coverage for its 1.27 crore beneficiaries. Political observers and critics argue the scheme, initially a key election strategy, is under strain due to the state’s financial burdens, including a reported debt exceeding ₹3.75 lakh crore.