Maiya Samman Scheme: Big Update! Money Will Be Recovered from These Women

The Maiya Samman Scheme, launched by the Jharkhand government for empowering women, is now facing some challenges. While the scheme was intended to provide economic support to women, several beneficiaries have violated the eligibility criteria and claimed double benefits. Now, the government has made it clear that women who have violated the scheme's rules will be required to return the entire amount they received.

This decision will impact thousands of women in the state. The government has taken this step to raise awareness and ensure that no one receives benefits without proper eligibility in the future. A thorough investigation is being conducted across the state, and reports are being prepared to identify cases where women have benefited from two different schemes simultaneously.

Which Women Will Have to Return the Money?

The Jharkhand government has clarified that women who have received benefits from the Maiya Samman Scheme along with any other pension scheme will have to return the full amount. This applies to women receiving widow pensions, old-age pensions, or any other social security benefits, who also applied for the Maiya Samman Scheme.

Thanks to the Aadhaar linkage, the government can easily track these discrepancies, and reports are being prepared district-wise to recover the funds from such beneficiaries.

How Did the Double Pension Issue Come to Light?

The issue of double pension arose when the registration and verification of all beneficiaries began using their Aadhaar cards. With Aadhaar linking, the government could easily identify women who were receiving benefits from both schemes simultaneously.

As a result, district-level officials have been instructed to conduct investigations and compile a list of women who are benefiting from two different schemes.

What Were the Payments Under the Maiya Samman Scheme?

Initially, under the Maiya Samman Scheme, women were receiving ₹1,000 per month to ensure smooth implementation of the program. However, after December 2024, the amount was increased to ₹2,500 per month, providing substantial financial support to women. Unfortunately, some beneficiaries took advantage of the system by claiming both the existing pension and the Maiya Samman Scheme payments.

Why Was Eligibility Overlooked?

Many women applied for the Maiya Samman Scheme without fully understanding the eligibility criteria. The clear guidelines stated that women already receiving any pension would not be eligible for the scheme. However, due to errors in the verification process, some ineligible women were included in the scheme.

Now, the government has decided to take action by recovering the funds from these women and removing them from the scheme.