Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal (file photo)
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal promised on Thursday that the monthly aid to women in the union territory will be raised from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 if the party is elected to power in the upcoming polls. He also announced the rollout of Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana, PTI reported.
Kejriwal, whose Aam Aadmi Party is seeking a third term in office, said, "Since elections will be announced in 10-15 days, transferring the money before elections is not possible".
Talking to PTI later, Chief Minister Atishi, however, said if the Model Code of Conduct comes into force after January 15, Rs 1,000 will be transferred into the bank accounts of eligible women above 18 years before the polls.
The 'Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana', which was announced in this year's Budget with an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore in March, was approved by the Delhi Cabinet on Thursday.
Kejriwal announced the rollout of the scheme while speaking at an event organised at the AAP headquarters, which was attended by a large number of the party's women workers and supporters.
The scheme originally proposed to provide Rs 1,000 per month to all eligible women in Delhi aged above 18 years. The registration for the scheme will start on Friday. It will be for Rs 2,100, Kejriwal said amid cheers of the gathering.
According to the eligibility criteria approved by the Cabinet on Thursday, the beneficiary should be a resident of Delhi with a valid voter ID card.
It also states women should not be employed by the government or receive pensions, and they should not be income tax payees.
The women and child welfare department will implement the scheme, an official said, adding that an app will be developed by the information and technology department for the application process to get Rs 1,000 monthly aid.
The scheme is likely to benefit around 38 lakh eligible women, a significant number which the AAP believes would help the party bolster its performance in the poll, especially because of the promise to raise the amount to Rs 2,100 after the elections.
An AAP functionary said that official documents like an Aadhaar card, passport, voter ID card, self-declaration and other proofs would be required to get the benefit of the scheme, adding that the party will set up booths in different localities for registration.
The BJP, which is yet to announce its manifesto, attacked Kejriwal, asking why the AAP government did not implement such a scheme for women in Punjab despite a similar announcement made by him before the elections in the state in 2022.
Speaking at the AAP headquarters, Kejriwal said that this scheme is for empowering women and addressing their financial needs. While the BJP calls it free 'revdis,' He sees it as a step towards strengthening our society.
"The BJP asks from where the money will come, but I said we will give free electricity, and we did it. I want to tell the BJP that I am a magician. I know where to get money from, where to save it, and where to spend it. If I make a promise, I will fulfil it. I said I would provide monetary help to women, and from today, that has started," he said.
The AAP leader also expressed confidence that his party would perform magnificently in the polls and urged women to support them actively. "If all women work together, we will secure more than 60 seats," he said.
The AAP, pitted against a confident BJP trying to upstage it in the polls due before February next year, believes the announcement would boost its chances in the elections.
"The scheme will not be an expense for the Delhi government but a blessing. The blessings of our mothers and sisters will bring prosperity to the Delhi Government. Some people were saying Arvind Kejriwal is making claims it won't happen. It is impossible. This or that person won't allow it, but it has happened," he said.