An Indian cash scheme for women drops nine million beneficiaries – 29,000 were men

Across India, governments led by different political parties have rolled out cash-transfer schemes for women Others were excluded because they exceeded the income or age limits, belonged to families with government employees, were already receiving money through another welfare scheme or came from households where more than one person was claiming the benefit.

Separately, a government verification drive removed more than nine million beneficiaries – mostly for failing to complete mandatory identity checks, while others were found to be ineligible.

For Bawaskar, the modest monthly payment meant her first bank account and money she could call her own.