A trek, a tree & an OTP: The daily digital struggle of Maharashtra’s tribal women

In the hills of Nandurbar’s Dhadgaon taluka, the promise of digital governance meets the stark limits of patchy connectivity.

According to a TOI very afternoon, dozens of women from Kharde Khurd and nearby villages trek uphill under the blazing sun, clutching their Aadhaar cards and mobile phones.

Their goal: to complete the mandatory e-KYC verification for the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a state welfare scheme for women. But without mobile signal, the process has turned into a daily ordeal.

A tree becomes a lifeline

Atop a hill in Kharde Khurd, a single mobile phone dangles from a tree—an improvised signal booster.

Women line up patiently beneath it, waiting for the one-time password (OTP) that will confirm their eligibility for the monthly payout. Often, the signal flickers to life only from across the border, picked up from Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh. Even then, success is rare.

We've set up a camp here, this is the only place where the mobile catches data," Rakesh Pawara, co-founder of the Ulgulan Foundation, an NGO assisting villagers told the news outlet. "But the verification fails most of the time," he added.

Volunteers estimate that fewer than 5% of attempts succeed.

Digital hurdles, real consequences

The Maharashtra government’s decision to make e-KYC mandatory has left beneficiaries in remote areas struggling to keep their benefits.

Slow-loading websites, failed OTPs, and timeouts have become routine frustrations. "Out of more than 100 women trying, only five or 10 get through," a volunteer told TOI.

For many, traveling to the nearest taluka office in Dhadgaon is not an option. "To reach the taluka office in Dhadgaon, we trek and then pay Rs 300 for transport. It's not possible for us," said Usha Pawara, a beneficiary. “It’s just not affordable.”

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has maintained that e-KYC verification is essential to prevent fraud. "Only verified beneficiaries will receive funds," he said, while indicating that the November 15 deadline could be extended if needed.

Officials acknowledge connectivity woes

Moreover, local officials admit the problem to TOI

"Mobile towers came up four-five months ago, but connectivity is still weak. We've asked operators to fix the issue. We're helping women through common service centres and Aadhaar operators," said Dhadgaon tehsildar Dnyaneshwar Sapkale.

TOI further reported that Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said the September payments had begun and urged beneficiaries to complete e-KYC at ladkibahin.maharashtra.gov.in.

However, social media responses to her announcement reflected deep frustration. “What about women who don't have their husband's or father's Aadhaar due to death or separation?" one user asked. Another complained, "I received the Sept amount, but OTPs never come."

Tatkare assured that her department is working to resolve technical issues, including OTP delays and data connectivity failures.