By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi 

CM defends ₹5,100-crore scheme in Assembly; says nearly 6 lakh registrations completed in 10 days

New Delhi, August 10: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday mounted a strong defence of the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana in the Assembly, describing it as one of the biggest welfare initiatives for women in the national capital and asserting that the scheme would benefit 17 lakh women.

Responding to questions raised by Opposition members during the second day of the Monsoon Session, Gupta said the government had earmarked ₹5,100 crore for the scheme, which seeks to provide eligible women with financial assistance while also building a savings component.

The Chief Minister regretted the Opposition’s walkout, saying those who claimed to champion the interests of Delhi’s women should have remained in the House to hear the government’s response.

‘No woman is a machine for giving birth to children’

Addressing questions over the scheme’s three-child condition, Gupta said family planning was a matter for individual families and stressed that women’s health remained a priority for her government.

She said, “no woman was merely a machine for giving birth to children”, while opposing what she described as a mindset that encouraged women to keep expanding their families in the hope of having a son.

₹2,500 assistance with savings component

Explaining the financial structure, Gupta said ₹1,000 would be provided through a digital wallet, while another ₹1,500 would be deposited as savings through an FD/RD mechanism.

She said the savings component was designed to accumulate over three years and could amount to around ₹60,000 including interest, giving beneficiaries access to a sizeable lump sum while retaining ₹1,000 for household and daily expenses.

Nearly 6 lakh registrations in 10 days

The Chief Minister said the scheme had received an unprecedented response, with 5,92,406 registrations completed by August 10.

The registration portal was launched on August 1, meaning nearly six lakh women had registered within 10 days, she said. The government has set the current beneficiary limit at 17 lakh and would keep the registration portal open until the stipulated number of women receives the benefit.

‘Delhi taxpayers’ money must benefit Delhi’

Responding to Opposition questions over women from neighbouring states using public transport facilities, Gupta said the government was making pink cards for women of Delhi.

She argued that money contributed by Delhi’s taxpayers should be spent in Delhi and its benefits should reach Delhi’s residents, stressing that the government remained accountable to the people who fund it.

CM questions Opposition’s conduct

Gupta also criticised the conduct of Opposition MLAs in the Assembly, particularly in relation to women visiting the House for assistance with applications. She called for dignity, propriety and decorum while dealing with women.

She also criticised an alleged social-media reel filmed by an MLA inside the House, calling such behaviour inappropriate in front of Delhi’s women.

The Chief Minister further questioned the Opposition’s claims of championing women’s dignity, citing allegations and cases involving members of its political party and referring to former minister Somnath Bharti and former MLAs Sharad Chauhan and Dinesh Mohaniya.

Punjab welfare scheme also under CM’s scanner

Gupta also questioned the Opposition over a recently announced women’s financial assistance scheme in Punjab. She claimed that funds meant for the welfare of construction workers had been proposed for the purpose and said court intervention had stopped payments.

She also referred to the reported debt burden of Punjab, putting it at around ₹4 lakh crore, while alleging that the scheme had been announced ahead of elections.

Gupta invokes Swati Maliwal, Atishi

The Chief Minister also questioned the Opposition’s record on women’s dignity, referring to Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and former Delhi Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Atishi.

Gupta said the government would ensure that no eligible woman was deprived of benefits under schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Delhi government. She listed the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, Pink Card, Anmol Yojana, two free LPG cylinders and Vidya Vahini Yojana among initiatives aimed at women and girls.

Bicycle scheme defended as education initiative

Gupta also hit out at Opposition remarks concerning the distribution of bicycles to girls under Vidya Vahini, saying the initiative was aimed at helping girls reach school, continue their education and reduce dropout rates.

She said the government planned to provide bicycles to lakhs of girls and accused the Opposition of viewing the initiative through an electoral lens rather than focusing on girls’ education and future.

The Chief Minister said empowering Delhi’s daughters and making them self-reliant remained a major responsibility of her government. She said the government’s various initiatives were intended to help girls complete their education, pursue their ambitions and become the “first in my bloodline” to achieve their dreams.