Ahead of Loksabha elections and Assembly polls, Delhi Financial Minister Atishi (of Aam Aadmi Party) announced on Monday ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ under which Rs 1000 will be given to all women aged above 18 years from next fiscal year (2024-25). She also added that the government has provided Rs 2,000 crore for this scheme in Budget 2024.
Aim of the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’
The scheme which aims to benefit women, was announced in her maiden budget speech by Atishi. She said the yojna ensures that women in Delhi, will not be dependent on their brothers and fathers for miscellaneous expenses.
Who is eligible for the Scheme?
During the Budget speech, the Financial Minister announced that only those who fulfill eligibility criteria will be benefited and given aid from the government. Atishi added that all Delhi women will get Rs 1,000 per month except –
- Women who already receive pension or aid under any other scheme from the state government
- Taxpaying women
- Government Employee
- Women who have Delhi voter ID card
How to get aid?
Atishi stated in the budget speech that to get the monetary benefit of the aid, the eligible beneficiary will have to provide Aadhar details, PAN, Bank account details, and a Delhi voter ID card.
Other Announcement made by the Financial Minister
Development of Unauthorized Colonies
Atishi said her government had made a provision of over Rs 900 crore for improving the condition of unauthorized colonies spread across Delhi.
This targets over 30 percent of Delhi’s population living in such areas. She also talked about other introduced and implemented by the AAP government in unauthorized colonies in past years.
Infrastructure
Atishi announced spending Rs 900 crore for laying down 1000 km of roads to improve connectivity between urban and rural areas. She considers this will give a ‘great boost’ to the village economy. People living in rural and urban villages directly impact the result of polls in at least three parliamentary constituencies (South Delhi, West Delhi, and North Delhi).
Education
The Financial minister proposed an allocation of Rs 100 crore to the state Council of Education Research and Training for training teachers, for the construction of schools and classrooms Rs 150 crore, for maintenance of existing classrooms Rs 45 crore, and for schools of specialized excellence Rs 42 crore has been allotted.
Health and Nutrition
For the development of the health sector of the state, Rs 6,685 crore was allotted. Along with that Rs 6,215 crore has been proposed for government hospitals. Atishi also announced an allocation of Rs 664 crore for nutrition-related schemes.
Social Welfare
For social welfare schemes, women and child development, and SC/ST/OBC welfare department, a total of Rs 6,216 crore are proposed by the Financial Minster.
Is talk of ‘Ram Rajya’ AAP’s Political Strategy?
AAP’s Atishi in her 120-minute-long speech, made several references to the life of Ram and read some verses from Tulsidas’s Ramcharitramanas. She added that her government is trying to fulfill the vision of ‘Ram Rajya’.
Atishi also drew a parallel between Lord Ram and Delhi’s CM Arvind Kejriwal, stating Ram had to struggle for 14 long years, but he did not back away from the promises. Similarly, Arvind Kejriwal had faced many difficulties in the past two terms in Delhi.
Atishi referring to ‘Ram Rajya’ in the budget speech looks like an attempt to woo people for electoral benefit for upcoming polls. Recent events surrounding the Ram temple, a wave of Hindu or Ram Rashtra in political space, and BJP’s political play around the name ‘Ram’ make a good reason for AAP to use this for their benefit.
However, what does this mean in the larger picture, doesn’t the use of the name ‘Ram’ by AAP too, increases polarization in the country or marginalization of the minority communities?
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