New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has flagged concerns and deficiencies in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government’s flagship Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.The CAG’s report on the state finances for 2024-25 notes that there was a sharp rise of spending for women’s welfare from Rs 261.78 core in 2023-24 to Rs 33,554.36 crore in 2024-25 especially under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana. This, the report said, “reflects a major push toward welfare oriented transfers rather than capital formation.”The scheme was approved by the Devendra Fadnavis government on June 28, 2024, just months before the assembly elections in the state.Under this scheme, implemented by the Women and Child Development Department of Maharashtra, eligible women aged 21 to 65 years can get a financial benefit of Rs 1,500 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).The report notes that for the implementation of the scheme, funds amounting to Rs 26,200 crore were made available through the supplementary budget. Additionally, Rs 3,490.75 crore was re-appropriated from the ‘Lek Ladki Yojana’. Thus, a total grant of Rs 29,693.09 crore was made available.Against this, the Department incurred an expenditure of Rs 33,237.24 crore, resulting in excess expenditure of Rs 3,541.16 crore, for which the Department did not provide any specific justification, the report says.The report also says that the implementation of the Ladki Bahin Yojana during 2024-25 was marked by significant deficiencies in budget estimation, expenditure control, and financial management. In addition to the unjustified Rs 3,541.16 crore, the report notes that there was withdrawal of Rs 15,586 crore during the last quarter of the year and its transfer to virtual personal deposit accounts without immediate utilisation. This, the report says, “indicates parking of funds and drawal without commensurate expenditure requirements.”Crucially, the report finds that “such practices undermine the principles of budgetary discipline, financial propriety, and legislative control over public finances.”The CAG’s report was tabled on July 10 and sent to the government on May 13.This is not the first time that the implementation of this scheme has been under the radar.At least 12,431 men received benefits under the scheme and were later removed from the list of beneficiaries after verification, a report found. At least 2,400 government employees, including men, were among those who availed themselves of undue benefits under the scheme.Last year, the Maharashtra government also cut down the stipend received by eight lakh beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Yojana to Rs. 500 instead of Rs. 1,500. The Mahayuti government in the state said that this was because beneficiaries were also receiving Rs. 1,000 under another government scheme, the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi (NSMN).