Maharashtra’s Women and Child Development Department has moved applications for the Lek Ladki scheme onto the MahaDBT 2.0 portal, Minister Aditi Tatkare announced on 31 October 2026. Parents can now register, apply, upload documents and track status online, instead of submitting forms at an anganwadi centre.
The change follows a Government Process Re-engineering (GPR) exercise and a Government Resolution of 16 October 2026 that approved a revised application form. It builds on the state’s wider shift of welfare schemes to MahaDBT 2.0 and Aaple Sarkar 2.0 citizen platforms.
What changes for Lek Ladki applicants
Until now, families had to visit their nearest anganwadi centre to hand in a paper application. Anganwadi workers then entered it on the scheme portal at project level, where it was scrutinised and approved. The department said this made it hard for families in areas without a working anganwadi to apply.
Under the new process, registration, scrutiny, application approval and benefit approval have all been streamlined online, and fewer documents are needed. Residents anywhere in Maharashtra can apply and check where their application stands.
- Login uses an OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number, through a Maha ID or Aadhaar.
- Ration card, domicile and income certificate details can be fetched by number, and documents can be attached from DigiLocker.
- Each application gets an Application Reference Number (ARN), with status shown under My Applications.
- Applications are approved by the District Programme Officer (Women and Child Development).
Who is eligible for the Lek Ladki scheme
The scheme covers girls born on or after 1 April 2023 in Maharashtra families holding yellow or orange ration cards, with annual family income up to ₹1 lakh. It pays a total of ₹1,01,000 in five instalments: ₹5,000 after birth, ₹6,000 in Class 1, ₹7,000 in Class 6, ₹8,000 in Class 11 and ₹75,000 at age 18.
The money is already paid through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into bank accounts. With the application now online too, the department described the move as a key milestone in implementing the scheme. So far, 2,98,695 girls have received the first instalment, according to the department.
Why it matters for e-governance in Maharashtra
Lek Ladki is a clear example of a state moving a welfare scheme from a front-line, paper-based process to a self-service digital one, while keeping DBT for payouts. Pulling certificate data by number and accepting DigiLocker files cuts repeat paperwork, a theme that runs through the Maharashtra State Data Policy.
It also changes the role of the anganwadi network, which has carried much of the department’s digital work, as seen in the IT solution for take-home ration in Maharashtra. Applicants who need help can still go to a Common Service Centre (CSC), according to the portal’s help guide.
Key takeaways
- Lek Ladki applications are now fully online on MahaDBT 2.0, from registration to status tracking.
- Fewer documents are needed, and families without a nearby anganwadi can apply.
- The scheme pays ₹1,01,000 per eligible girl in five DBT instalments; 2,98,695 girls have received the first one.
FAQ
How do I apply for the Lek Ladki scheme online?
Log in to MahaDBT 2.0 with an Aadhaar-linked mobile OTP, open Apply for Scheme, choose Lek Ladki Yojana, fill in the form, upload documents and submit to get an ARN.
Do I still need to visit an anganwadi centre?
No. The application can now be made directly online, though help is available at Common Service Centres.
Featured image: Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare. Photo: TV9 Marathi (file).