NEW DELHI: Like in last budget, around Rs 5,110 crore has been allocated for govt’s Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, and chief minister Rekha Gupta has reiterated providing Rs 2,500 as monthly financial assistance to women.The scheme was central to BJP’s electoral campaign last year, and a similar allocation of Rs 5,000 crore was made then. However, the rollout did not take place. This year, the emphasis has clearly shifted from announcement to implementation.
At Rs 2,500 per month, each beneficiary will be entitled to Rs 30,000 annually. The allocation is expected to cover nearly 17 lakh women . “This year, we are committed to ensuring that women receive the benefits of this scheme,” Gupta said in her budget speech.To streamline implementation, govt has set up a verification committee to identify the eligible beneficiaries. “Very soon, we will launch a govt portal where women can apply for the scheme,” the chief minister said. The portal is expected to handle applications, documentation and tracking, making the process more transparent.Officials in the women and child development (WCD) department indicated that the rollout could take a few months, depending on how quickly systems are put in place. A senior official said the process would not be entirely new, pointing out that similar verification mechanisms already exist for pension schemes. “Most verification happens at the district level, so it should not pose a major challenge,” the official said.According to sources, the eligibility criteria are likely to include an annual income cap of Rs 2.5 lakh and an age bracket of 18 to 60 years. These conditions were discussed in a recent meeting chaired by the chief secretary. Officials added that a draft of the scheme has been prepared and will soon be placed before the cabinet for approval. The yojana’s success will ultimately depend on how effectively it is implemented on the ground.
