Pune: State to recheck nearly 1% of all Applications Ladki Bahin after the formation of the new government.
A senior official of the Women and Child Development (WCD) department told TOI on Wednesday that with 2.5 million beneficiaries, there were plans to conduct an exhaustive random audit of applications to weed out possible discrepancies.
The official said: “We will start by randomly checking 1% of all applications and then carry out sampling checks in stages. » With the government expected to announce the revised monthly amount from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 soon, the audit is likely to be completed before the rollout in December.
Officials said this review was essential, and the finance ministries and the WCD offered to review all applications thoroughly. Applications were approved starting in July and five installments were disbursed. The sixth installment (December) should be credited after the first cabinet meeting.
Currently, the state government has allocated Rs 36,000 crore and will have to release additional funds for this increased amount through a special supplementary budget.
Finance Ministry officials said the checks would be carried out at the district level to address concerns about potentially fraudulent claims and misappropriation of funds. “This will ensure that taxpayers’ money reaches only the genuine beneficiaries,” an official added.
A multi-level verification system will carry out the process. At its core, the eligibility criteria impose a maximum annual family income of Rs2.5 lakh, with restrictions on land ownership – capped at five acres. Income tax certificates, superannuation details and vehicle ownership records will be examined. The program limits benefits to two women per family and allegations of multiple claims within households will need to be investigated.
Field officers will conduct door-to-door surveys. Specialized teams will cross-reference beneficiary data with various government data, including electoral rolls and Aadhaar-related records.
The process will involve multiple government agencies working in tandem. Local authorities, including district and block level officers, will spearhead the ground verification. Department of Social Welfare teams at the state level will oversee the broader audit process. Additionally, specialized audit teams will review financial transactions and beneficiary lists.
Sources within the Finance Ministry said the audit could have a significant impact on the current tally and ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive the money. Officials estimate that the process could take several weeks, which could affect the regular payment schedule.
Furthermore, government officials assured that legitimate beneficiaries should not worry, since the main objective is to strengthen the implementation of the program and not to restrict its benefits. Checks are only to verify details.