The Maharashtra government has found that at least 12,431 men were granted benefits under its flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana — the scheme for women that gives Rs 1,500 every month to those aged 21-65 from families earning less than Rs 2.5 lakh annually, according to data accessed by The Indian Express under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Responding to RTI queries from this newspaper, the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, which runs the scheme, stated that these men have been removed from the list of beneficiaries, following verification, along with 77,980 women who were also identified as ineligible.

In all, the RTI response shows that 12,431 men and 77,980 women were wrongly disbursed Rs 1,500 for 13 months and 12 months, respectively, under the scheme

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