Women protesting in Mumbai led by AIDWA demand payment of pending aid

Visuals from AIDWA-led protest against suspended installments of Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana in Mumbai on November 3, 2026. | Photo credit: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit

Women from different parts of Maharashtra gathered in Mumbai on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) to protest against the suspended installments of the Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. They demanded immediate payment of outstanding installments under the scheme. They also demanded streamlining of the e-KYC process as soon as possible. “Why have you arbitrarily stopped our installments? When there were elections, you gave us money. Now that there are no elections, you suddenly stopped the funds. How was our e-KYC done earlier? Why is the portal closed now? Why are there no answers? You promised us ₹2,100 when you contested the elections. Now you have stopped even 5 Chandiwalige.1 from Chordiwalige.1

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She was among several women who took part in a protest led by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan on Tuesday (November 3, 2026).

CPI(M) leader and AIDWA founder member Brinda Karat told The Hindu: “It’s about the principle of accountability. In our democracy, if you promise something, what happens if you don’t stay accountable? You vote. And then who is responsible? You’ve betrayed these women who you promised ₹2,100 a month in the welfare community. That’s not gender work, the welfare community in India doesn’t do the most work.”

Meena Janjal of Akola said several women in her region were landless labourers. “These illiterate women did not know about KYC. So their money stopped some time ago. But even those women who have done e-KYC are facing problems this year. They have not received their installment since February 2026,” she said.

High cost of living

Several women reported that the cost of living had increased as the prices of fuel, food, vegetables and daily necessities increased. “At such a time, this money gave us some relief. It helped us buy medicine for the family or books for the children,” said Afsana Hazrat Ali Sheikh.

Priya Ambure was receiving her installments regularly until a year ago. “I work as a helper in Mumbai. My husband also earns. We are not rich. The prices of everything we need every month have gone up. Be it wheat, sugar or rice. We live on rent. Increase the installment from ₹1500 to ₹2100. Because that is what you promised us before the elections. And start paying again.

The delegation meets with officials

A delegation of AIDWA leaders led by Mariam Dhawale met Maharashtra government officials and minister Chhagan Bhujbal with demands. “We have been asked to submit the applications of all those women whose e-KYC has been completed. Once these applications are submitted at the tehsil level, their installments will be released, the government told us. We have also been told to provide details of food shops that did not provide the allocated ration to below poverty line families. The government said they will cancel the licenses of such shops. Workers will be promised arrears for two days in the middle of the day when we mid-day food arrears will be promised, Prachi Hatiwlekar, state general secretary of AIDWA, told The Hindu.

Published – 03 Nov 2026 23:15 IST