Delhi Government approves financial aid for women, seeking to set it apart from what has now come to be widely perceived as political freebies
The Delhi Government, powered by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has approved the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing financial assistance of `2,500 per month to women from economically weaker sections. The initiative, a key promise made during the BJP’s election campaign in Delhi, is expected to cost the exchequer `5,100 crore. The eligibility criteria for the scheme include an annual income cap of `2.5 lakh and an age range of 18 to 60 years.
The Delhi Chief Secretary, along with other officials, has finalised these conditions, ensuring that the financial aid reaches the most deserving beneficiaries. However, the announcement understandably will concretise over a period of time as no date for disbursement has been declared yet, despite earlier promises of payments beginning on March 8. Besides, it has also been pointed out that the eligibility criteria were not communicated to voters during the election campaign. In its layout, the Mahila Samridhi Yojana seeks to ward off any criticism of the so-called “freebie culture,†which political parties across the spectrum accuse each other of.
Indeed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has often warned of excessive populist schemes could that burden State finances and harm long-term economic stability. He has advocated for welfare measures that promote self-reliance rather than direct cash benefits. It is hoped that the Delhi Government would acknowledge the Prime Minister’s warning and ensure that welfare measures are not just a tool to secure electoral victories.
BJP national president JP Nadda himself launched the scheme, congratulating the Chief Minister for allocating the funds for its execution. Ms Rekha Gupta has a tight financial rope to walk on, considering she bemoaned the appalling fact of Delhi’s empty coffers when she assumed office. Admittedly, Delhi has already allocated itself subsidies which are worth thousands of crores, a probe into which the Government must initiate post haste. The subsidies given by the Kejriwal Government in the past decade have increased manifold, inquiries into which ought to be the present Government’s utmost priority. The highest subsidies have been allocated to the power, water and transport sectors. Delhi’s power subsidies rose from `292 crore in 2014-15 to a shocking `3,600 crore by 2024-25. The free water provided by the Kejriwal Government was another big drain on the exchequer. The past decade has spawned an invincible Water Mafia culture in Kejriwal’s erstwhile strongholds which merits an independent action. Water subsidies rose from `21 crore in 2014-15 to `500 crore projected for 2024-25. Free bus travel for women cost a whopping `115 crore in 2019-20. In 2014-15, the total subsidy doled out was `1,555 crore. This figure nearly doubled in 2015-16, soaring to `3,018 crore. While it remains to be seen how Ms Gupta delivers on her promise to fellow women citizens, what needs to be clearly factored in is the figure of `5100 crore and how best to manage the resources for it.
The approval of the Mahila Samridhi Yojana initiative is expected to strengthen the BJP’s party’s appeal among women voters, a crucial demographic in electoral politics. Therefore, the real success of the scheme will depend on its swift and transparent implementation. With opposition parties already raising concerns over delays and additional conditions, the Delhi Government must ensure that the scheme does not remain a mere electoral promise and delivers tangible benefits to the intended beneficiaries.
As the political landscape of Delhi continues to evolve, the implementation of welfare schemes such as this will play a pivotal role in shaping the public’s perception of the ruling party. The question remains whether the BJP can balance its ideological opposition to freebies with the electoral necessity of welfare measures. Indeed, the politics is the art of possible.
