The BJP-led Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, approved the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana on Saturday, a scheme promising Rs 2,500 monthly assistance to eligible women. The Cabinet, chaired by Gupta, allocated Rs 5,100 crore to kickstart the initiative, fulfilling a key promise from the BJP’s “Sankalp Patra” manifesto for the recent Delhi Assembly polls.

While official eligibility criteria are yet to be released, sources suggest the scheme may target women aged 21-60 with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh. A dedicated portal will soon be launched for registrations, with a Group of Ministers—led by Gupta and including Ashish Sood, Parvesh Verma, and Kapil Mishra—overseeing implementation. Gupta emphasized the scheme’s immediate rollout, stating, “We’ve budgeted Rs 5,100 crore to ensure benefits reach women swiftly.”

The approval drew praise from BJP president J P Nadda at a party event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, attended by Gupta and her Cabinet. However, the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the move as an empty promise. Leader of Opposition Atishi accused the BJP of failing to deliver before International Women’s Day, calling PM Narendra Modi’s guarantees “jumlas” and questioning the scheme’s timeline.

Beyond financial aid, Gupta outlined plans for women’s safety, including “one-stop centres” across Delhi’s districts offering police assistance and legal counseling. The scheme will use Aadhaar-based e-KYC for transparent disbursal, ensuring efficiency. Gupta hailed the decision as a testament to BJP’s commitment to women’s empowerment, citing her own rise to chief minister as evidence of the party’s support for female leadership.

The AAP, however, remains skeptical, with Atishi warning that this could be another unfulfilled promise. As Delhi awaits the scheme’s rollout, it marks a significant step in the BJP’s agenda for women’s welfare, though its success hinges on timely execution.