In a significant update concerning the popular Ladki Bahin Yojana, the state government has announced a key change that will affect thousands of women beneficiaries. Those currently availing benefits under the Namo Shetkari Yojana will now receive only ₹500 per month under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, instead of the full ₹1,500.
According to the eligibility criteria set by the government, beneficiaries are not allowed to receive benefits from multiple government welfare schemes simultaneously. As a result, women who are already enrolled in the Namo Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana—also known as the Namo Shetkari Yojana—will see a reduced amount credited under the Ladki Bahin scheme starting this month.
Launched in 2023, the Namo Mahasamman Nidhi Yojana offers ₹6,000 per year to farmers in Maharashtra, in line with the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana by the Central Government, which also provides ₹6,000 annually. Women beneficiaries receiving aid under both these agricultural welfare programs are now being reclassified under the revised rules of the Ladki Bahin Yojana.
As per official data, nearly eight lakh women across the state are currently enrolled in the Namo Shetkari Yojana and will now receive only ₹500 per month under the Ladki Bahin scheme—down from the previously expected ₹1,500.
The April installment of the Ladki Bahin Yojana will be disbursed on April 30, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. This will be the tenth installment since the scheme was launched. However, women receiving benefits under the Namo Shetkari Yojana will receive only ₹500 for April.
The decision has come as a disappointment to many women who were expecting the full monthly amount, and questions are now being raised about the communication and implementation of these overlapping eligibility conditions.