Delhi Chief Minister Atishi recently announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana that will provide financial assistance to women. The aim of the scheme is to provide monthly financial support to ₹1,000 for women over 18 years old.
Registration for the scheme will begin in the next seven to 10 days as the state government is still working on it, Atishi said at a press conference on December 13.
Who is eligible for this scheme?
The Delhi CM clarified that any woman who is a resident and registered voter in the capital can avail this scheme. However, women who fall under certain categories are exempt. The exempt category includes:
Regarding income criteria, the government will exclude women who pay income tax. The scheme deliberately avoids accounting for family income, as it does not reveal whether a woman is financially independent or not.
The budget of the scheme is ₹2,000 crore. The government expects to provide one or two installments before the end of the current financial year (FY25).
According to the Delhi government, the scheme is expected to target a large section of the female population, namely nearly 45 to 50 lakh women, nearly 80 percent of the voters who may be eligible for the scheme.
Atishi announced this plan months before the Delhi assembly elections. On Thursday, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal promised that the aid amount would be increased ₹1,000 to ₹2,100 if the Aam Aadmi Party returns to power. The Delhi parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2025.
