Overview

• The Mahila Samridhi Yojana, a key BJP poll promise, aims to provide ₹2,500 per month to eligible women in Delhi aged 18-60 from families earning below ₹3 lakh annually.
• The Delhi Cabinet approved a ₹5,100 crore budget for the scheme, with a committee led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta formed to oversee its implementation.
• Critics, including AAP leaders, accuse the BJP government of delaying the scheme, highlighting the absence of a registration portal and any disbursed payments by the promised March 8 date.
• AAP and Congress leaders argue that the scheme's restrictive eligibility criteria may exclude a majority of Delhi’s women, with some estimating less than 10% coverage.
• The BJP defends the initiative as a historic step for women's empowerment, with plans for an Aadhaar-linked online registration system to ensure transparency and prevent fraud.