3 weeks ago
Delhi CM's constituency sees mixed response to women's aid scheme
The Delhi government is starting a new program called the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana.
It will give money every month to some women whose families are poor.
Only one woman from each family can get the money.
She must be the oldest woman in the family and between 21 and 60 years old.
Her family must also earn less than a certain amount every year.
Many women in a neighborhood called Indira Colony are excited about this.
Some had to fill many forms and visit several offices to apply.
Other families are unhappy because they cannot get the money.
For example, families that own a car or a truck are not allowed to apply.
People with more than three children are also left out.
Some women say this is unfair, but the government says it wants to help the poorest people.
The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, a BJP poll promise of monthly financial aid for women from economically weaker sections, will roll out on Raksha Bandhan (August 28).
Residents of Indira Colony, a slum cluster of around 400 homes in Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's Shalimar Bagh constituency, gave mixed responses to the scheme.
Only the eldest woman in a family, aged 21 to 60 with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh, is eligible for the monthly aid.
Exclusions include income taxpayers, government employees, women with more than three children, families with a four-wheeler, and women with a criminal record.
Applicants like Gurbari Sahu spent five days completing paperwork, while critics such as Jyoti say the exclusions contradict the promise of benefits for all voters.
- Who
- Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the BJP-led Delhi government, and women residents of Indira Colony in Shalimar Bagh
- What
- Mixed public response to the rollout of Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, a monthly financial aid scheme for women from economically weaker sections
- Where
- Shalimar Bagh in North West Delhi, particularly the Indira Colony slum cluster
- When
- The scheme is set to roll out on Raksha Bandhan (August 28), after Gupta won the Shalimar Bagh seat last year
- Why
- The scheme was a major BJP poll promise, but its strict eligibility criteria have drawn both support and criticism
Critics of the scheme
Delhi government
Eligibility exclusions
Critics of the scheme
Residents like Jyoti and Meena Devi say the strict exclusions, such as families owning pickup trucks or having more than three children, mean many who voted for the promise get nothing.
Delhi government
A source in the CM's office says the government designs schemes to benefit the poorest section of society.
Application process
Critics of the scheme
Meena Devi claims the poor received government benefits easily during the AAP regime but now face many documents and questions.
Delhi government
Applicants like Gurbari Sahu eventually completed the process through the MLA's letter and the CM's Office, showing the system works.
Key facts
- Scheme
- Delhi Lakshmi Yojana
- Launch date
- Raksha Bandhan, August 28
- Eligibility
- Eldest woman in family, aged 21-60, annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh
- Location
- Shalimar Bagh, North West Delhi
- Indira Colony homes
- Around 400
- Election margin
- Rekha Gupta won Shalimar Bagh by 30,000 votes
- Sample applicant income
- Around Rs 15,000 per month for Gurbari Sahu's family
Quotes
Gurbari Sahu
60‑year‑old housewife in Shalimar Bagh, applicant for the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana
“Those with more children need more money… but those are the people excluded. During the AAP regime, the poor used to get government benefits easily, now they ask for so many documents, so many questions.”
indianexpress.com
“We went to the cyber cafe where there was a long queue of applicants… When our turn finally came, we were told to get a Voter ID, then a letter from our MLA.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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