President Droupadi Murmu Launches Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana In Delhi

Droupadi Murmu on Monday joined Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to launch a series of women-centric welfare initiatives in the national capital, including the revamped ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’, the ‘Meri Poonji, Mera Adhikar’ scheme, and the ‘Saheli Pink Smart Card’. The programmes were unveiled at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the presence of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and MLA Pankaj Singh.

A key highlight of the event was the rollout of ‘Meri Poonji, Mera Adhikar’, under which Rs 100 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of 40,642 girls through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Officials described it as one of the largest DBT disbursements for girl beneficiaries in Delhi. The initiative forms part of the expanded ‘Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’, which replaces and strengthens the earlier Ladli Scheme aimed at supporting the education and welfare of the girl child.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu expressed confidence that the newly introduced measures would significantly contribute to women’s empowerment in Delhi. She congratulated the state government for initiating the schemes and said they would help build a more prosperous and inclusive capital by supporting daughters and sisters across socio-economic backgrounds.

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Chief Minister Gupta termed the occasion historic, stating that the initiatives represent a comprehensive effort to support girls from birth to self-reliance. She said the revamped scheme substantially enhances the financial assistance previously provided under the Ladli Scheme. Earlier provisions included fixed deposits at the time of birth and additional deposits at key educational milestones such as admission to Classes 1, 6 and 9, passing Class 10, and admission to Class 12. The restructured programme seeks to ensure that beneficiaries accumulate more substantial savings by adulthood.

Under the eligibility criteria, families with an annual income of up to Rs 1.20 lakh who have been residing in Delhi for at least three years can avail the benefits, provided the girl child was born in Delhi. The government also introduced the ‘Saheli Pink Smart Card’, which will enable free bus travel for women across the capital, a move aimed at enhancing mobility, access to education and employment, and workforce participation. Officials said the initiatives, alongside other welfare measures such as free gas cylinders during Holi and Diwali, underscore the administration’s broader commitment to financial security and empowerment of women and girls.

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