Politics · India Bureau
Mumbai women protest delayed welfare payments, demand e-KYC reforms
Women's groups led by AIDWA staged protests in Mumbai on Wednesday demanding swift disbursal of pending government assistance. The demonstrators also called for streamlining of the electronic know-your-customer verification process that has stalled benefit payments.
LSN India ·
Hundreds of women gathered in Mumbai to press authorities for immediate release of welfare funds that have remained pending due to e-KYC complications. The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) led the demonstration, highlighting systemic delays in the verification process that have prevented eligible beneficiaries from accessing entitled assistance.
CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat addressed the protesters, alleging that the Maharashtra government has failed in its obligations to women beneficiaries. "The state has deliberately delayed disbursals through a flawed e-KYC mechanism," Karat stated, accusing authorities of negligence in implementing welfare schemes.
Activists demanded comprehensive reforms to simplify the digital verification procedure, citing cases where women have been unable to complete authentication requirements due to technical barriers and insufficient guidance. They argued that the current e-KYC framework has become a bottleneck preventing timely assistance delivery.
In response to the demonstrations, state officials announced they would expedite pending cases and undertake a review of the e-KYC process. The Maharashtra government committed to working with beneficiary groups to identify and resolve procedural bottlenecks, though no specific timeline for resolution was provided.