Laxmi Yojana will empower women, says Minister Sood

New Delhi: Delhi Minister Ashish Sood said on Friday that the Delhi government’s Laxmi Yojana was aimed not only to benefit a section of women but also to create a wider social impact by improving their financial independence.

Speaking during the vote of thanks for the scheme’s launch by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Delhi Assembly, Sood said the monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 may not transform lives overnight but could significantly improve the economic conditions of women beneficiaries.

“Rs 2,500 cannot change life, but it can drastically improve their conditions. This scheme will financially empower women of Delhi,” he said. The remarks came during a Delhi Assembly session where AAP MLAs stayed away from the proceedings, boycotting the Session. Sood said the opposition’s absence during the discussions reflected their “lack of interest” in the issue. Taking a swipe at AAP convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sood alleged that the party in Punjab failed to fulfil its promise of providing Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to women.

“AAP has not delivered on its 2022 promises, even by 2026. If arrears are to be calculated, they have not paid Rs 48,000 per woman in Punjab,” he said. Sood also announced that the beneficiary registration portal for the scheme was opened on June 1 and the first instalment would be released on August 28. The first-year allocation for the scheme stands at Rs 5,100 crore, he said.

BJP MLA Shikha Rai said the scheme was not merely about financial assistance but also reflected the government’s commitment to women.