Delhi CM Rekha Gupta launches Lakshmi Yojana; 33,730 women register on Day 1

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday launched the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, opening registrations for the scheme that promises eligible women ₹2,500 per month. The portal www.dly.delhi.gov.in began accepting applications, with the government expecting around 17 lakh women to benefit.

Launching the scheme at the District Magistrate's office in East Delhi, Ms. Gupta said beneficiaries could choose between two modes of assistance. Under the first, ₹1,000 will be credited to a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) wallet for daily expenses, with the remaining ₹1,500 deposited in a recurring deposit (RD) or fixed deposit (FD). Under the second option, the full amount will be deposited in an RD or FD.

According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), 33,730 registrations were completed between 6.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. on the first day. Of these, 1,940 applications were submitted, and 9,170 were awaiting MLA recommendation. Sources said the recommendation verifies that applicants reside in the concerned constituency to avoid discrepancies.

The eligibility criteria require applicants to be women aged 21 to 60 and the eldest female member of their family. Annual family income must not exceed ₹2.5 lakh, and the applicant must be a registered voter. Either the applicant, her husband, or either parent must have been a Delhi resident for at least 10 years. The family's annual electricity consumption must not exceed 2,400 units, and no family member should own a four-wheeler. The applicant should have no more than three children and no criminal record.

The CMO said applications will undergo a four-stage verification process. They will first be scrutinised by the District Programme Management Unit, then verified by the District Women and Child Development Officer, and finally reviewed by the district-level Approval, Monitoring and Grievance Redressal Committee.

The government has stated that financial assistance cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, narcotic substances, lottery tickets, gambling, betting, or any other prohibited goods and services.

While many women welcomed the initiative, some expressed concern about documentation and verification requirements. Kamla Mandoria, 58, who runs a tea stall in Shadipur Main Market, said the scheme's success would depend on whether assistance reaches poor women without bureaucratic hurdles. "Paperwork is complicated, middlemen interfere, and many deserving women are left without any support," she said.

Another woman, Sunali, who supports her children through sex work, said women in informal and precarious occupations often lack the documents required for eligibility. "The hardest part isn't making ends meet; it's proving that we deserve help. Many women living on the margins will never receive the benefit," she said.

Chief Minister Gupta, in her launch speech, said, "When we made this promise to you, it was not just an announcement, but a resolve for your happiness, your honour and your better future. Today, we have the good fortune to fulfil that resolve."