In a significant development, the Delhi government is set to introduce the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, which promises eligible women a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000. Atishi, the Finance Minister, anticipates the rollout of this scheme in September-October after the conclusion of general elections. As she presented her maiden budget with a proposed outlay of Rs 76,000 crore in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi shed light on the scheme’s details and expressed hope for a positive impact on the lives of Delhi’s women.
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana aims to benefit women who are not Income Tax payers, registered voters of Delhi, and not government employees or beneficiaries of any government pension scheme. Atishi emphasized that there is no ceiling on the number of beneficiaries, estimating that approximately 45 lakh women in Delhi are eligible for the honorarium.
While discussing the scheme, Atishi highlighted its dependence on market forces, ensuring that those who genuinely need the support will avail of it. The Finance Minister also addressed the anticipated timeline, indicating that the first deposits of the honorarium are expected to commence by September or October, post the completion of necessary formalities.
In addition to the women’s honorarium scheme, the Delhi government is gearing up for the second phase of the Business Blasters scheme in government-run universities. The scheme, which currently provides Rs 2,000 seed money to Class 11 and Class 12 students, will be expanded to state-run universities in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The government has allocated Rs 15 crore in its annual budget to implement this extension, providing a seed money boost of Rs 25,000 for start-ups.
As Delhi anticipates these financial initiatives, the proposed outlay of Rs 76,000 crore for the 2024-25 financial year marks a decline from the Rs 78,800 crore allocated in the preceding fiscal. Atishi clarified that the allocation for the transport and health sectors has also witnessed a decline, attributing it to the completion of major projects such as the electrification of bus depots.
As Delhi awaits the implementation of these schemes, Atishi expressed confidence in the AAP’s position in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing the party’s commitment to the people and the impactful work it has undertaken.
