One woman’s thumbprint became her first bank signature. For Nirmala Ba

@aspirantai_official

#Maharashtra#WomenEmpowerment

One woman’s thumbprint became her first bank signature.

For Nirmala Bawaskar, a housemaid in Maharashtra, ₹1,500 a month wasn’t just cash; it was dignity. That’s the power of Ladki Bahin. But now, 9 million names have vanished from the rolls. And 29,000 of them? Men. Yes, men. Launched in 2024, this state cash scheme aimed to empower women; and it did. Almost 26 million joined. But audits found ₹35 billion overspent. Over 6 million beneficiaries weren’t verified. Some got paid despite being government employees or already on other welfare lists. Was it a game-changer? For women like Nirmala; absolutely. She learned to write. She got her own account. But economists warn: short-term relief can mask long-term fiscal risks. Maharashtra spent big; but did it spend wisely? The political win was real. Polls showed Ladki Bahin helped the ruling alliance sweep state elections. Yet researchers caution; women didn’t vote as a bloc. And the real question remains: Can cash replace childcare, healthcare, and education? Or is it just a Band-Aid with a bank account?