Delhi Elections 2025: AAP Government Approves ₹1,000 Monthly Aid for Women Under Mahila Samman Yojana

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 2025, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing monthly financial assistance to women in the national capital. Under this initiative, eligible women will receive ₹1,000 each month, with Kejriwal promising an increase to ₹2,100 if AAP retains power in the upcoming elections.

The announcement, made on December 12, 2024, comes as part of the AAP's campaign to appeal to women voters. The scheme, approved by the Delhi Cabinet, was first proposed during the Delhi Budget for 2024-25. The government has allocated ₹2,000 crore for the initiative, which is expected to benefit approximately 38 lakh women out of the 67 lakh women voters in the city.

Eligibility Criteria and Rollout

To qualify for the scheme, women must meet the following criteria:

• Be a registered voter in Delhi.
• Have an annual income of ₹2.50 lakh or less.
• Be between the ages of 18 and 60 years.
• Not own a four-wheeler.

Kejriwal emphasized that women can now register for the scheme, with payments expected to begin after the election. While the financial assistance will initially be ₹1,000, the Chief Minister assured that it would rise to ₹2,100 per month if AAP wins another term.

Political Context and Election Strategy

The announcement comes as the AAP seeks to secure a third consecutive term in Delhi after winning 67 seats in the 2015 elections and 63 seats in 2020. The party's popularity has largely been attributed to its focus on welfare schemes, including healthcare and education.

However, the Mahila Samman Yojana has faced some hurdles. The Finance Department had previously raised concerns over budgetary constraints, but Kejriwal remains optimistic about its successful implementation. He also took a swipe at opposition parties, stating that the rollout of the scheme had been delayed due to political challenges, adding, "I wanted to roll out this scheme earlier, but they put me in jail."

With the assembly elections looming, the announcement of the Mahila Samman Yojana is expected to boost AAP’s appeal among women voters, a crucial demographic in the upcoming elections.