Welfare – Delhi Leaders Encourage Women to Register for Lakshmi Yojana Benefits
Welfare –The Delhi government has stepped up preparations for the rollout of the Lakshmi Yojana, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders encouraging eligible women across the national capital to complete their registrations ahead of the scheme’s launch. The financial assistance programme, approved by the Delhi Cabinet this week, is scheduled to come into effect from August 1 and is expected to support nearly 1.7 million women by providing monthly financial aid.
BJP MPs Highlight Government’s Commitment
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj described the Lakshmi Yojana as a reflection of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s commitment towards the welfare of women. She said the initiative demonstrates the government’s focus on improving financial security for women and strengthening their role in society.
West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also appealed to eligible beneficiaries to enrol in the scheme without delay. She stated that the BJP government remains committed to implementing every major promise made during the Assembly election campaign. According to Sehrawat, several other initiatives aimed at women and girls, including the Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana and Meri Punji Mera Adhikar, have also been introduced to encourage greater participation of women in Delhi’s growth and development.
Monthly Financial Assistance From August
The Lakshmi Yojana was among the BJP’s prominent election commitments during the Delhi Assembly polls. Under the programme, eligible women will receive financial assistance of Rs 2,500 every month. The government believes the initiative will provide direct support to women from qualifying households and strengthen economic independence.
Officials have indicated that registration will begin with the implementation of the scheme, allowing eligible applicants to apply for the monthly benefit from August 1.
Eligibility Rule Sparks Political Debate
Even before its formal launch, the scheme has become the subject of political discussion over one of its eligibility conditions. As per the official guidelines, women with more than three children will not qualify for the financial assistance.
Reacting to this provision, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned the government’s decision and criticised the exclusion of women with larger families. In a post on social media platform X, he argued that the condition could create confusion among people, referring to previous remarks made by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat regarding family size.
Kejriwal said the government should clearly explain its position, claiming that the eligibility rule appears inconsistent with earlier public statements encouraging larger families.
Earlier Remarks Referenced in the Debate
The political exchange follows comments made by Mohan Bhagwat at a public event in February, where he spoke about the need to strengthen and unite Hindu society. During his address, Bhagwat suggested that Hindu families should consider having at least three children, while emphasising the importance of long-term social and demographic considerations.
Kejriwal cited those remarks while questioning why women with more than three children have been kept outside the scope of the Lakshmi Yojana.
AAP Seeks Question Hour in Assembly Session
Separately, the Aam Aadmi Party has written to Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta requesting that a Question Hour be included in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly. The party said Question Hour is an essential parliamentary practice that allows legislators to seek accountability from the government by raising issues affecting the public.
AAP maintained that restoring Question Hour would strengthen legislative oversight and ensure elected representatives have sufficient opportunity to discuss matters related to governance and public welfare during the session.