New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta Wednesday distributed approval letters to 2,500 eligible and verified beneficiaries under Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, a scheme to provide Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to poor women to help meet household expenses. The first instalment will be transferred into the accounts of beneficiaries on Sept 1, she said.During the programme, sanction letters were symbolically handed over to 65 women. Registration for the scheme began Aug 1. Till Aug 26, more than 9.2 lakh women have registered. So far, sanction letters have been issued to 4,190 beneficiaries.LG T S Sandhu, Union minister of state Harsh Malhotra, cabinet ministers Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Manoj Tiwari and others were present at the event at Talkatora Stadium.Gupta said the scheme was not merely about providing financial assistance, but about giving women greater financial security and the ability to take decisions independently. “Only when women become economically and socially stronger will families, society and the country move forward rapidly,” she said.CM said the scheme will allow women to spend the money on their needs and aspirations. “The monthly assistance will take into account their current expenses and future savings. Under the arrangement, Rs 1,000 will be made available through a digital wallet for spending while Rs 1,500 will be deposited as an FD/RD to help build savings for the future,” she said, adding that she wanted to launch the scheme a year ago, but could not do so because one year was spent in clearing the outstanding dues of the previous govt.A large number of women from different assembly constituencies of the city filled the stadium, many occasionally raising slogans to thank CM Gupta. There were cultural performances to mark the event too. Several registration counters were set up to help women learn more about scheme eligibility and the registration process.Malhotra said the scheme was an important step towards fulfilling PM’s commitments on women’s welfare.LG Sandhu said women account for nearly half of the country’s population and should have an equal role in building a developed Delhi and developed India. He hailed the digital transfer of funds under the scheme, saying it would help ensure transparency and effective delivery of assistance.During the 2025 assembly elections, Delhi BJP had promised Rs 2,500 monthly assistance to eligible women aged between 21 and 60. The eldest eligible woman in a family can receive the benefit if she has been a resident of Delhi for at least 10 years, possesses a voter ID and belongs to a family with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh. Verification is an ongoing process, said an official.The scheme, however, has a detailed list of exclusions, including women who are taxpayers, govt employees or pensioners, or already receiving another pension.
