Monthly Allowance Guarantee Pending In Punjab, Can Kejriwal Keep Promise To Delhi’s Women?
Last Updated:
In Delhi, the AAP chief said the cabinet approval for the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ is for Rs 1,000, but he will give Rs 2,100 per month to every woman after elections are over and the party forms the next government
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi with AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal during an event outside the party office on Thursday. (PTI)
It was the winter of 2021 and political parties were getting ready for the Punjab assembly polls when Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), came out with five guarantees — including crediting Rs 1,000 per month into the account of every woman in the state — if the party wins.
Kejriwal promised that all the women in a house, who were above the age of 18 years, would be given Rs 1,000 per month if they registered for the scheme. So, if a house had more than one adult woman, the money would be given to each individual.
When elections were held in February 2022, AAP swept the polls with a clear majority, winning 92 of 117 seats. Over time, the party fulfilled all its promises and guarantees. Yet, the promise to women could not be fulfilled, even as the government is set to complete three years in the next few weeks.
Speaking to News18, a state party leader said they are well aware that the guarantee is “pending”.
“It is not that we have forgotten what we promised. For every scheme that a government implements, a lot of planning is done. The work is underway and very soon, women will start getting the money. We never said we will not do that. We have already fulfilled four guarantees even before completing two years. We are the only party in India that delivers every promise. Soon, we will get the good news for this scheme also,” the leader said, without getting into the details of the timeline.
As against the term ‘promise’ used by political parties and their leaders, AAP opts for the word ‘guarantee’.
“When we say guarantee, it means the work will be done, no matter what. As giving money to women was a guarantee, it will also be done,” the leader added.
Even before elections were held in Punjab, Kejriwal had started registrations for the scheme. In May this year, the Bhagwant Mann government said they will give Rs 1,100 to women instead of Rs 1,000 per month. However, in the state budget of 2024-25, no funds were allocated for the scheme. Mann had said his government would redirect funds from other schemes for the payment but nothing concrete has taken shape so far.
Punjab Formula Repeated in Delhi
What happened in Punjab in 2021-22 is now being repeated by Kejriwal in Delhi where elections are due in February 2025. Though the former chief minister made a similar announcement for women in the national capital, the difference was the scheme did get cleared by the Cabinet though it has a long journey ahead. Apart from other steps, the scheme will also have to get clearance from the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
On Thursday, the Delhi Cabinet cleared the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ for the city under which Rs 1,000 per month will be credited to the account of every woman who lives in the national capital and registers for the scheme.
While making the announcement, Kejriwal said the cabinet approval is for Rs 1,000, but he will give Rs 2,100 per month to every woman after the elections are over and the party forms the next government.
The registration of the scheme will start from Friday, he said, although the amount may only be credited after the formation of the new government.
“We announced that we will give Rs 1,000 to every woman every month in their bank accounts. Today, under the leadership of chief minister Atishi, the cabinet cleared the proposal to give Rs 1,000 in every woman’s bank account,” Kejriwal said.
He said with this announcement, the scheme has been launched in Delhi for which women need to register.
The initial announcement for the scheme was done in March and Kejriwal said he was expecting the scheme may be launched by May.
Addressing the questions raised by the opposition on the freebies provided by his government, Kejriwal said he knows how to get the money, how to manage it and how to spend it.
“When I first said electricity will be free, they said the government does not have funds but we did it… people were saying it is not possible. But if Kejriwal decides something, he will do it,” he said, calling himself a “magician”.
Kejriwal also said while the scheme has been launched, the money may not be credited to accounts as elections will be announced in the next 10-15 days. “I believe if each and every woman votes for us, we will get at least 60-65 seats in Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
The current term of the 70-member assembly will end in February 2025 and elections are likely to be held in the city in the next few weeks.
