By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: The Delhi Government has approved the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana (DLY), a flagship women-centric welfare scheme that will provide ₹2,500 per month to more than 1.7 million eligible women, marking a major step towards strengthening financial security and social empowerment in the national capital.
The scheme was cleared at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, with a ₹5,110 crore allocation in the 2026–27 Budget. The government said the initiative fulfils a key commitment to improve the economic independence of women and will initially remain in force for three years, with scope for extension or modification.
Women aged 21 to 60 years from families with an annual income of up to ₹2.5 lakh will be eligible for the benefit. Beneficiaries can choose between two payment models: ₹1,500 in a Recurring Deposit (RD) or Fixed Deposit (FD) and ₹1,000 in a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Digital Rupee wallet, or the entire ₹2,500 deposited into an RD/FD to encourage long-term savings.
The government announced that the online application portal will go live on August 1, with the first instalment targeted for disbursal on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Applications will be processed through a district-level verification mechanism designed to ensure transparency and timely grievance redressal.
The scheme excludes women already receiving government financial assistance or pensions, income taxpayers, GST return filers, government employees, women with more than three living children, households consuming over 2,400 units of electricity annually, families owning a four-wheeler, and women with a criminal record.
Beyond direct financial assistance, the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana also aims to promote education, healthcare, financial inclusion and social participation. The government said beneficiaries will be encouraged to support school enrolment, create APAAR and ABHA IDs, ensure child immunisation, register on the POSHAN Tracker, participate in environmental campaigns, and join Self-Help Groups and skill development programmes.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the initiative as a landmark step towards enhancing women’s dignity, self-reliance and long-term financial stability, expressing confidence that it would positively transform the lives of over 17 lakh women across Delhi.
