Delhi Polls: Congress To Give 2,500 A Month To Women

Ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls, the Congress party has promised financial assistance of Rs 2,500 per month to eligible women in the city. The scheme, called the “Pyari Didi Yojana,” will be introduced if Congress wins power in Delhi.

At a media briefing, Congress invited Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to highlight the success of a similar initiative in his state. Shivakumar, a key figure in Karnataka’s government, touted the scheme as a model for other states, even for BJP-led regions.

“The ‘Pyari Didi Yojana’ will be approved in the first Cabinet meeting after Congress wins,” Shivakumar said, seeking votes for the party based on Karnataka’s success. He also outlined other welfare measures, such as free bus travel for women, which are currently benefiting women in Karnataka.

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Shivakumar dismissed BJP’s criticism of Congress’ welfare schemes. He pointed out that the BJP had once mocked the Karnataka model, but later adopted similar initiatives in states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.

The Congress leader emphasized that the financial aid aims to provide relief from rising prices and support struggling families. “The Congress has always delivered on its promises,” he said, expressing confidence in the party’s return to power in Delhi.

Qazi Nizamuddin, AICC in-charge of Delhi Congress, also defended the party’s credibility, asserting that it was launching its first social welfare scheme in the capital.

Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav introduced a new campaign slogan: “Hogi har zaroorat puri, Congress hai zaroori” (Congress is indispensable for fulfilling all basic needs). He echoed Shivakumar’s points, stressing that over 1.2 crore women in Karnataka receive Rs 2,000 monthly under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. He also highlighted other welfare initiatives, like free rice for 4 crore people and job schemes benefiting unemployed youth.

Yadav claimed these successful models would be implemented in Delhi, bringing savings of Rs 4,000-5,000 per family each month, similar to the impact seen in Karnataka. He emphasized that Congress had kept its promises in states like Karnataka, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

In contrast, Yadav criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, accusing him of failing to deliver on promises regarding infrastructure, including schools, power, and water. He called Kejriwal a “dream seller” who had also failed to tackle corruption.