Pune: Pune district has emerged as the leader in submitting the highest number of applications for the Chief Minister's flagship 'Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme, aimed at empowering women across Maharashtra.

With a staggering 20,23,436 applications, Pune alone accounts for a significant share of the total submissions in the state.

However, a key concern has emerged, as around 1.5 lakh applicants have bank accounts that are not linked with their Aadhaar numbers, which is a requirement for receiving the scheme's financial benefits.

Tuesday (October 15) marked the final day for applying to the scheme, which has garnered widespread interest.

According to data provided by Jamsing Girase, the District Officer for Women and Child Welfare, 10,56,025 applications were made via the newly launched online portal dedicated to the scheme.

The application process revealed that 96,710 applicants' bank accounts were not linked with their Aadhaar, potentially delaying their eligibility for the scheme's direct financial transfer.

In addition to the online portal, another 9,68,484 applications were received through the 'Nari Shakti Yojanadoot' portal, with 53,674 applicants also facing the issue of non-Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.

These figures were recorded by 11 a.m. on the final day of applications, and officials indicated that there could be a slight increase in the total number of applications as more data is processed.

The scheme prioritizes women whose bank accounts are already linked to their Aadhaar numbers, allowing for immediate transfer of benefits. Officials are urging applicants with unlinked accounts to complete the process quickly to avoid delays.