Government to Audit Ladli Behna List | 12 Sep 2025

Why in News?

The state government will audit the "Ladli Behna" beneficiary list to remove ineligible names before the monthly assistance increases from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500 after Diwali.

  • A public appeal will be made, urging women who do not qualify for the scheme to voluntarily withdraw, followed by departmental scrutiny to remove any ineligible entries from the list.

Ladli Behna Yojana

  • About: The scheme was launched on 10th June 2023 by the then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
    • Under this, married women between 23 and 60 years of age were initially given assistance of Rs 1,000, which was later increased to Rs 1,250 per month. 
  • Objective: Its main objective is to economically empower the women of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Eligibility and Rules: 
    • The annual income of the woman's family should be less than Rs 2.5 lakh.
    • No member of the family holds a government job.
    • Apart from this, the family should not have more than 5 acres of land, a tractor, or a four-wheeler. 
  • Current Status: The scheme currently has over 1.26 crore women enrolled, making it the state's largest direct benefit transfer programme, costing around Rs 1,550 crore per month.

Other Women-Centric Schemes

  • Ladli Laxmi Yojana: Launched in 2006, the scheme aims to secure the future of girl children by improving their educational and economic status.
    • It also seeks to promote a positive societal mindset towards the birth of a girl child and reduce gender discrimination.
    • Eligibility Criteria: The scheme benefits parents who have adopted family planning after having two living children, ensuring population control.
      • Families must be registered with an Anganwadi centre and should not be income tax payers to qualify for the scheme.
    • Financial Benefits: The state government purchases National Savings Certificates worth Rs 6,000 annually in the girl's name from birth until the total reaches Rs 30,000.
      • When the girl turns 21 years old and if she has not married before the age of 18, she receives a lump sum amount of Rs 1 lakh as the final benefit under the scheme.
  • Usha Kiran Yojana: The Usha Kiran Yojana, launched by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2006, provides protection and legal support to women and children facing domestic violence.
    • It functions under the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
    • Core Objectives: The scheme seeks to safeguard victims from physical, sexual, mental, emotional, and economic abuse.
      • It aims to ensure justice, dignity, and security for women and children affected by domestic violence.
    • Target Beneficiaries: The scheme supports women of all ages, irrespective of marital status.
      • It also includes children under 18 years who may be directly or indirectly affected by domestic violence.