Kalyana Lakshmi scheme scandal unveiled

The Kalyana Lakshmi scheme, intended to provide financial assistance to brides from economically weaker sections, has been rocked by a recent Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report. The report, presented in the assembly, uncovered over 7,300 cases where childbirth dates under the KCR Kit scheme preceded the declared marriage dates under the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme between 2019–20 and 2021–22. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns about data accuracy and verification.

The report highlighted that in all these cases, the husband's name matched across records, suggesting that the marriages may have taken place earlier than officially declared. The findings also pointed to the possible use of false marriage certificates to avail benefits, leading to irregular financial assistance amounting to Rs 72.91 crore. Further scrutiny at revenue divisional offices identified 1,917 cases involving Rs 19.15 crore. In addition, the report flagged inclusion errors in the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme, with 5,522 ineligible beneficiaries found to have received aid, including underage brides and applicants from families exceeding the prescribed income limit.

The report also revealed a structural flaw in the system, as there is no Aadhaar-based validation for bridegrooms, allowing multiple claims to be linked to the same individual. Data analysis unveiled instances in which two brides were associated with the same bridegroom, raising concerns about potential misuse. The CAG recommended stronger system integration and real-time data cross-verification across schemes, Aadhaar validation for bridegrooms, mandatory documentation in cases of second marriages, and clear accountability for administrative lapses. The report also called for measures such as direct benefit transfers and timely digital updates to beneficiaries to improve transparency and efficiency in service delivery.