Just ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal government launches ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ with an eye on wooing strong female voters
As per the final electoral roll of national capital, there are 67,30,371 women voters out of total 1 crore 47 lakhs 76 thousands 301 electors
Presenting her maiden budget in assembly, Delhi Finance Minister Atishi introduces the scheme
Manoj Kumar Pathak
New Delhi : Just days before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections schedule, AAP has played an another freebie card. This time it’s pre-poll bonanaza to woo Delhi’s all 67,30,371 women voters out of total 1 crore 47 lakhs 76 thousands 301 electors. Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ under which Rs 1,000 will be given monthly to all women aged above 18 from the fiscal year 2024-25. Eyeing favours from female voters in upcoming parliamentary polls, Delhi Finance minister Atishi on Monday announced this scheme while presenting her maiden budget in state assembly.
“The Kejriwal government will give a monthly amount of Rs 1,000 to every woman aged 18 or above. Under the Mukyamnatri Mahila Samman Yojana, women will be given this benefit,” she said. Atishi presented the budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the Delhi Assembly on Monday with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore, and said the government is trying to realise the dream of ‘Ram Rajya’.
In the budget tabled in the state assembly ahead of the general elections, she also announced that the Business Blasters scheme, which was till now being implemented in schools, will now be implemented in universities and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Last year, the government had allocated Rs 78,800 crore for the financial year 2023-24 and announced nine schemes as part of the G20 preparations. The Delhi government’s budget size for 2022-23 was Rs 75,800 crore and Rs 69,000 crore in the preceding year.
This marked the 10th budget of the Arvind Kejriwal government for Delhi. To ensure the smooth implementation of this new scheme in the national capital, the AAP government has allocated ₹ ₹2,714 crore in funds, said Atishi in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha.
The Delhi finance minister said, “A budget of ₹2,714 crore has been proposed for these beneficiaries in the budget of 2024-25. Under the Rs. 2000 crore for ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ for the welfare and empowerment of women, every woman above 18 years of age will get an amount of ₹1000 per month.” While the Delhi government has not revealed the exact specifications for the scheme, Atishi said all the women in Delhi above the age of 18 will be eligible to get ₹1000 directly in their bank accounts.
The starting date of the scheme has not been announced yet, but it is expected that it will commence after the Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for April-May. Under this scheme, ₹1000 will be transferred every month in the bank accounts of women above the age of 18.
Who is eligible for the scheme?
Atishi said that not all Delhi women are eligible for the Rs 1000 monthly aid programme. Only those women can apply for the scheme, who are-
- Not receiving pension or aid under any scheme from the Delhi government.
- Are not government employees
- Are not tax paying women
- Don’t have a Delhi voter ID
How to get benefit of scheme
Atishi said that eligible women for the scheme can get financial assistance from the next financial year onwards.
She said that to benefit from the monetary assistance scheme, one needs to provide Aadhaar details, a PAN Card, Voter ID and bank account details.
A sum of ₹2000 crore has been set aside for the beneficiaries of the Mukhamantri Mahila Samman Yojana. Only registered voters will be eligible for this scheme. Those who are eligible will have to fill out a form by the Delhi government, declaring that they are not a member of any pension scheme, and are not a government employee.The forms for the same have not been released by the Delhi government yet.
Recalled Manish Sisodia contribution
This was the first time that Atishi presented the budget after taking charge of the finance department last year.
In her budget speech, she remembered Manish Sisodia, former education minister, and Satyendar Jain, former health minister, for their roles in shaping the education and health models in the national capital.
“This is a moment of pride that the Kejriwal government is presenting its tenth budget today. I am not just presenting the tenth budget but a picture of changing Delhi. Kejriwal came as a ray of hope. We are all inspired by Ram Rajya. We are working hard towards realising the dream of Ram Rajya,” she said.
Reacting to the development, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “…Today a big announcement has been made for the women of Delhi. This will be the world’s biggest program to empower women. Now they will not have to depend on anyone for money. Every woman above 18 years of age will be given Rs 1,000 every month.”
