Arvind Kejriwal said that financial assistance for women will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,100
New Delhi:
The monthly financial assistance for women in Delhi announced by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal does not have a solid source of funding, the Congress and the BJP have alleged, calling Mr Kejriwal's election promise an attempt to to mislead voters ahead of the Delhi assembly. elections planned early next year.
The big announcement to increase financial support from Rs 1,000 per month to Rs 2,100 if the AAP returns to power in Delhi has drawn criticism from the ruling party's rivals over its source of funding.
The 'Mahila Samman Yojna' was first proposed by the women and child development department to the finance department, sources said.
The finance department expressed concerns about the source of funding and recommended not submitting the draft to the Council of Ministers without sufficient data.
“Outlines of the proposed plan [is] unclear; demanding greater granularity and strengthening of timelines to enable efficient and transparent expenditure of Rs 4,560 crore per annum. It is advised that the Cabinet draft note should not be submitted to the Council of Ministers until a concrete plan with verifiable data and a roadmap has been prepared for consideration by the Council of Ministers,” the finance department said.
Earlier today, Mr Kejriwal announced that the Mahila Samman Yojana has been approved by the Delhi Cabinet, leading to an increase in the monthly amount from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,100.
He said that since the election dates will be announced in the coming days, the cash transfers cannot take place now; however, the registration process to avail the benefits under the scheme will begin.
To avail this benefit, women have to get registered and once done, the amount will be transferred directly to their bank account, he said.
The AAP is contesting the Delhi elections solo and has ruled out any alliance.
Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said Kejriwal's latest promise to give Rs 2,100 per month to the 'mothers and sisters' of Delhi was another false promise after he failed to keep his earlier promise to give Rs 1,000 give to a woman in every family.
Mr Kejriwal had stopped widow's pension and Ladli Yojana.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva wondered why the AAP government in Punjab, which had promised Mahila Samman Rashi before the Assembly elections, has failed to deliver results even after two years in power.
Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Mr Kejriwal collected forms from women in Delhi and promised a subsidy of Rs 1,000 from September. However, no funds have been distributed so far, Mr Sachdeva said.
