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Mumbai, Nov 17 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on Monday extended the deadline to complete the mandatory e-KYC process till December 31 this year in a relief to the beneficiaries of the Ladki Bahin Scheme.
The earlier deadline of November 18 has been officially extended following widespread disruptions caused by recent natural disasters and technical challenges faced by women in many districts.
This announcement was made by Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare.
According to Minister Tatkare, e-KYC verification under the popular women-centric scheme is progressing rapidly across the state.
However, recently many districts witnessed severe natural disasters that destroyed houses, communication networks and essential documents, leaving many families struggling to complete basic formalities.
A large number of women reported difficulties in obtaining the OTP required for Aadhaar-based verification, especially in cases where the Aadhaar-linked mobile number belonged to their deceased husbands or fathers.
“In many such situations, it became impossible to complete e-KYC within the earlier deadline,” the minister said.
“Keeping these genuine difficulties in mind, the government considered it necessary to extend the deadline.”
This decision was taken after reviewing the challenges faced at the ground level. Officials said the leadership was clear that no eligible woman should be denied benefits due to technical or unavoidable reasons.
Minister Tatkare said, “The extended deadline will provide much-needed relief and ensure that millions of women can complete the verification process smoothly, thereby securing their continued access to the benefits of the Ladki Bahin Scheme.”
The government has also clarified documentation requirements for women who may face OTP-related hurdles. Women whose husband or father is no longer alive will have to complete their individual e-KYC and submit a certified copy of the relevant death certificate.
Divorced women must produce a divorce certificate or court order to verify their eligibility. The release issued by Minister Tatkare’s office said the measure is aimed at ensuring accurate verification while providing flexibility to people facing unique personal circumstances.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to women’s welfare, Minister Tatkare said, “Our priority is that every eligible woman gets justice. No beneficiary should be deprived of the scheme due to technical issues, loss of documents, or circumstances beyond their control.”
He appealed to the beneficiaries to complete their e-KYC within the extended period to avoid last minute delays.
–IANS
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