‘Delhi Lakshmi Yojana: Women to get Rs 2,500 from Aug 28

New Delhi: Ina major welfare push ahead of Raksha Bandhan, the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi Government on Tuesday approved the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, under which eligible women in the national capital will receive ₹2,500 per month as financial assistance. The Cabinet clearance comes nearly 18 months after the BJP assumed office, paving the way for the implementation of one of the party's key election promises.

Formerly known as the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, the scheme has been officially renamed Delhi Lakshmi Yojana. The government announced that online registrations will commence on August 1 through a dedicated digital portal, while the first installment is scheduled to be credited on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. The financial assistance will be transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Certain categories have been excluded from the scheme. Women with more than three living children, households consuming over 2,400 units of electricity annually, and GST-registered taxpayers will not be eligible for the monthly assistance

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative is aimed at improving the economic condition of women from low and middle-income households by promoting financial independence. She said the monthly assistance would help women meet household expenses and provide greater financial security at a time of rising inflation and living costs. To ensure the benefits reach the intended beneficiaries, the government has prescribed strict eligibility criteria. Applicants must be women aged between 21 and 60 years, permanent residents of Delhi, and should have lived in the city for at least 10 years. They will be required to submit residence certificates and other supporting government documents during registration.

The scheme is targeted at economically weaker families, with the annual household income capped at ₹2.5 lakh. The government has also made it mandatory that applicants should not have any criminal record.