Just days before the launch of Haryana’s Lado Lakshmi Yojana on November 1, the state government is facing an unexpected challenge — only 6.5 lakh women have applied so far, despite the expectation of over 20 lakh eligible beneficiaries.
Officials attribute the low registration numbers to widespread misconceptions and lack of awareness among women about the scheme’s benefits and eligibility criteria. The initiative is being jointly managed by the Department of Social Welfare, Panchayati Raj, and Kreed Department, all working to streamline the process.
Fear of Losing Ration Card Benefits
During a meeting with Chief Minister Nayab Saini on Wednesday, officials informed that many women are hesitant to register due to fears that their pink and yellow ration cards might be cancelled.
- Families earning ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 annually fall under the Antyodaya (pink card) category and receive 35 kg of wheat per month from the government.
- Those with ₹50,000 to ₹1.8 lakh annual income hold yellow BPL cards, while green APL cards are issued to families earning above ₹1.8 lakh annually.
Officials say that beneficiaries of the pink and yellow card categories fear losing multiple welfare benefits if their income is recalculated after receiving funds under the new scheme.
Portal Launched in September, Limited Applications So Far
The Haryana government launched the Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana portal on September 25, projecting that over 20 lakh women would qualify. However, by October 25, only 6.2 lakh women had applied, despite special registration camps organized across districts.
The government aims to start direct benefit transfers into women’s accounts beginning November 1, but the sluggish registration rate has prompted concern at the administrative level.
Fear of Losing Antyodaya Status
Many women worry that once they start receiving ₹2,100 per month under the scheme, their annual family income could appear to increase by ₹25,000, potentially disqualifying them from Antyodaya lists.
According to government data, there are 19.62 lakh women aged 23 to 60 years in Haryana with an annual income of around ₹1 lakh. Yet, as of October 25, only a fraction — 6.20 lakh — have enrolled.
The government is now considering tweaks in the scheme’s rules to ensure broader participation while preventing women from losing other welfare benefits.
