The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, the BJP government’s flagship monthly cash assistance scheme for women, has come under fire from AAP leader Anurag Dhanda, who has questioned why registrations remain a fraction of the women the party believes are eligible for support.
A Scheme With Big Promises
Formally launched on August 26 at Talkatora Stadium, the scheme offers Rs 2,500 a month to eligible women aged 21 to 60 from families earning up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually, with only one woman per household eligible. The Delhi government has set aside Rs 5,110 crore for the 2026-27 financial year and expects to cover just over 17 lakh women.
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The Registration Gap
So far, about 8 lakh women have applied through the official portal since it opened on August 1. AAP leaders, including Dhanda and party president Saurabh Bharadwaj, argue that this number falls dramatically short of the women who were led to expect the Rs 2,500 benefit, calling the eligibility rules so restrictive that most applicants end up excluded.
Government’s Defence
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has pushed back on the criticism, noting that close to 9.5 lakh women registered within the scheme’s first month and stressing that there is no deadline or cap on registrations, meaning eligible women can apply at any time.
Political Sparring Continues
Anurag Dhanda:The dispute reflects a broader tussle over welfare delivery in Delhi, with AAP arguing the scheme’s fine print was designed to limit its reach while the BJP maintains that verification and disbursal are proceeding on schedule, with payments for the first batch of beneficiaries set to begin September 1.
