A New Step Towards Women’s Empowerment in Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday said the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to empower women and strengthen their financial independence. The scheme, which provides ₹2,500 per month to eligible women, was formally launched at an event in the national capital. Speaking to reporters, Gupta said providing ₹2,500 monthly assistance to women in Delhi had been a commitment of her government from the beginning. She said the launch marked the government’s move from announcing the scheme to delivering its benefits to women. The registration portal for the scheme was opened on August 1. According to the Chief Minister, nearly 9.5 lakh women have registered within a month, showing strong interest in the initiative. The government has allocated around ₹5,100 crore for the scheme. The first set of beneficiaries received verification and approval letters at Wednesday’s event. The financial assistance is scheduled to begin from September 1. The government has also said that the scheme does not have a fixed deadline for registration and that eligible women can continue to apply. The scheme is aimed at women who meet the prescribed eligibility conditions. The official Delhi Lakshmi Yojana portal lists eligibility requirements and provides facilities for online applications and application tracking. When the registration portal was launched earlier this month, the government described the initiative as a major step towards women’s economic empowerment. The scheme was also one of the BJP’s key promises ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. However, the scheme has also faced political criticism. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that strict eligibility rules could leave many women outside its coverage. The Delhi High Court had earlier questioned the requirement for an endorsement from a local MP or MLA for applicants, raising concerns about access to welfare benefits. For the Delhi government, the Lakshmi Yojana remains a flagship women-focused welfare initiative. Gupta has presented the monthly assistance as a measure intended to give eligible women greater financial security, independence and confidence in managing everyday needs.