On October 16, 2026, the Women and Child Development Department decided to implement Governance Process Re-engineering (GPR) to simplify administrative operations and improve transparency. As part of the initiative, the department reviewed existing schemes, focusing on digitising their management and identifying programmes that had become outdated or failed to attract the expected response.
According to the department's decision, schemes providing multipurpose social centres for women, grants to women's groups, hostels for the rehabilitation of children of Devadasis, and solar power kits for Anganwadi centres without electricity connections have been discontinued. In addition, the process of shutting down financial assistance for voluntary organisations operating shelter homes and a financial assistance scheme for children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic is scheduled to be undertaken.
The government has also decided to abolish the separate budgetary accounting head for the 'Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree' scheme. These changes have raised questions about their potential impact on beneficiaries of various welfare programmes being implemented for women and children.
The 'Lek Ladki' scheme replaced the 'Majhi Kanya Bhagyashree' scheme from April 1, 2023. Consequently, the process of closing the separate accounting head for the older scheme has been initiated. However, instructions have been issued to clear pending payments by the end of March 2027 for beneficiaries who qualified under the scheme on or before March 31, 2023. The accounting head will subsequently be abolished from the financial year 2027-28.
The discontinuation of the grant scheme for women's groups and the rehabilitation scheme for children of Devadasis has been attributed to low demand for funds and an inadequate response. While explaining the decision to discontinue the solar power kit scheme for Anganwadi centres without electricity connections, the department referred to a provision of Rs 500 per month by the Central Government for centres with electricity connections. However, questions remain over how the electricity requirements of Anganwadi centres without power connections will be addressed.
Welfare Scheme Benefits to Be Delivered Digitally
Meanwhile, the department plans to distribute benefits under the 'Lek Ladki' and 'Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Bal Sangopan' schemes through the MahaDBT portal. The service for issuing certificates to orphaned children will remain available on the 'Aaple Sarkar' portal. For the 'Sakhi Niwas' scheme, offline applications will continue to be accepted until a dedicated Common Hostel Portal is developed.
The department is also focusing on streamlining beneficiary information and bank account verification through the Poshan Tracker. For women's safety, it plans to provide a dedicated telephone facility for the 181 helpline. Products manufactured by the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal will also be made available on Amazon Saheli and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
The department has clarified that the latest decisions will not bring about any changes to the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme. The restructuring therefore combines the expansion of digital services with the discontinuation of several older welfare programmes, while the implications for existing beneficiaries and the delivery of essential services remain significant areas of concern.
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