New Delhi: The Delhi government on Friday approved the ‘Mahila Samridhi Yojana,’ a scheme aimed at providing ₹2,500 to women in the national capital. However, the move drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of failing to fulfill its promise of disbursing funds by March 8 and instead forming a committee to draft the scheme without clear timelines or eligibility criteria.
The controversy stems from BJP leaders’ earlier assurances, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge, that the first installment under the scheme would be deposited into women’s accounts on International Women’s Day (March 8). AAP leaders, however, claimed no such deposits were made, calling the announcement a “jumla” (rhetorical promise).
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Opposition Raises Concerns Over Implementation
AAP leader and Leader of Opposition Atishi stated, “Women waited all day for a confirmation message that never came. Instead of financial support, the government formed a four-member committee. This was not a guarantee—it was another jumla.” She emphasized the lack of clarity on when funds would reach beneficiaries or how eligibility would be determined.
दिल्ली की सभी महिलाओं को अंतरराष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस की बधाई।
आज दिल्ली की सब महिलायें अपने फ़ोन को ताक कर इंतज़ार कर रही हैं कि ₹2500 बैंक में जमा होने का मैसेज उनके फ़ोन पर कब आयेगा। pic.twitter.com/m7PYg5ciUn
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) March 8, 2025
AAP’s Durgesh Pathak echoed these concerns, questioning the sudden introduction of a committee. “PM Modi had promised the first installment by March 8. Today, they’ve only formed a committee. This shows the BJP never intended to act,” he said.
Congress leader Abhishek Dutt challenged the scale of the scheme, citing the announced allocation of ₹5,100 crore. “If divided by 12, each assembly constituency would receive funds for only 200–300 women, totaling around 17,000 beneficiaries across Delhi. This contradicts the BJP’s claim of universal coverage,” he argued.
Procedural Hurdles Highlighted
AAP’s Gopal Rai raised procedural concerns, noting that BJP president JP Nadda’s reference to a ₹51,000 crore allocation was “misleading.” He clarified, “Such allocations cannot be approved without a budget presentation in the Assembly. The Delhi cabinet alone cannot sanction this.”
The BJP has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
Current Status:
As of now, the Delhi government has approved the formation of a committee to draft the scheme, with no confirmed timeline for rollout. The opposition has demanded transparency, urging immediate disbursement of funds as promised.
The developments have sparked a political debate, with critics accusing the BJP of prioritizing announcements over execution, while the government maintains the committee is a step toward structured implementation. Further clarity is expected once the committee submits its recommendations.
