Editor Mr.Mayank Rawat ( Chief Editor Mr. Rohit Mishra )
New Delhi: A group of ministers, led by CM Rekha Gupta, is likely to meet soon to give the final shape to the detailed guidelines of the Mahila Samridhi Yojana and implementing the scheme on ground.
The scheme, which promises to provide the financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women, was approved by the cabinet on the International Women’s Day on March 8, and BJP-govt had allocated Rs 5,100 crore to fund the initiative. The chief minister, who also holds the charge of the finance department, had earmarked the amount while presenting her maiden budget a few days later.
Sources said the women and child development department of Delhi govt had prepared the draft scheme and guidelines, which would be placed before the group of ministers. Pravesh Verma, Ashish Sood and Kapil Mishra are the other ministers who have been included in the committee.
As per the basic eligibility criteria, women aged between 21 and 60 will be eligible for the monthly honorarium of Rs 2,500. The applicant must be from an ‘Antodaya’ or ‘Below Poverty Line’ household in the capital, with a valid ration card issued by the department of food supplies of Delhi govt. The benefit will be limited only to the eldest woman of the family.
Govt has also planned to extend the benefits to only those women, whose children have either completed the mandatory vaccination as suggested by govt or are actively undergoing the vaccination schedule, sources said.
“Govt has also decided that of the monthly financial benefit of Rs 2,500, a part of the amount will be credited directly to the beneficiary’s central bank digital currency wallet, while the remaining will be deposited monthly in the recurring fixed deposit in the name of the beneficiary,” said a source privy to the information.
“This will ensure instead of spending the entire money every month, the beneficiary will have a substantial amount in her hand at the maturity of the recurring deposit account, which can be used for paying for the admission of a child or for marriage or to start a business,” the source said.
Another source said govt would relax the eligibility criteria every year to have a maximum number of women benefit from the scheme.
However, govt has yet to finalise the percentage of the amount that will be locked-in and will go to the recurring deposit scheme. An online portal will be created for online registration of beneficiaries.
The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana was one of the key electoral promises made by the BJP ahead of the assembly polls.
Mayank Rawat
