Girl child welfare: Maharashtra's Lek Laadki scheme process simplified, says minister

Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare announced on Sunday that the Lek Laadki scheme, aimed at supporting the welfare of girl children, has undergone a major simplification in its implementation process. The change allows eligible beneficiaries to apply online via the state government’s ‘Aaple Sarkar’ portal, with financial assistance directly deposited into their linked bank accounts. This shift aims to streamline access to the scheme and enhance transparency for families seeking support. The revised process reduces the number of documents required for application, easing the administrative burden on parents. Under the updated guidelines, applicants can now submit forms directly through the digital platform, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. Additionally, the system will automatically fetch beneficiary details using the Aadhaar number, ensuring quicker verification. Electronic Know Your Customer (E-KYC) procedures for the girl, her mother, and father will also be conducted digitally, further streamlining the process. The scheme offers financial assistance at key developmental stages in a girl’s life. Girls born on or after April 1, 2023, are eligible for initial aid of ₹5,000 immediately following birth. As they progress through school, additional payments become available, ₹6,000 upon enrollment in Class 1, ₹7,000 for Class 6, and ₹8,000 for entry into Class 11. Upon reaching the age of 18, a final payment of ₹75,000 is disbursed. The cumulative financial assistance under the scheme amounts to ₹1.01 lakh per eligible girl. To ensure inclusivity, the government has extended the application window for those who were previously excluded. Eligible girls from April 1, 2023, can apply until August 15, 2027. For newly registered cases, applications must be submitted within one year of the girl’s birth. This extension aims to capture a broader range of beneficiaries, particularly those who might have missed earlier deadlines. Eligibility criteria require families to be residents of Maharashtra and hold either a yellow or orange ration card. Income limits and other conditions set by the government also determine qualification. So far, over 298,695 beneficiaries have received the first installment of the scheme, according to Tatkare. The initiative, managed by the Women and Child Development Department, seeks to promote girls’ education, empowerment, and foster a positive societal outlook toward female children. By making the application process more accessible and efficient, the government hopes to increase participation and ensure that more girls benefit from the program. Direct Benefit Transfer mechanisms will facilitate the timely and secure delivery of funds to beneficiaries. Tatkare emphasized that the streamlined approach should result in a faster, more transparent, and user-friendly experience for families applying for support. The changes reflect the administration’s commitment to improving social welfare programs and addressing systemic barriers faced by vulnerable groups.