On Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the approval of the Rs 2,500 financial aid for women under the Mahila Samriddhi Scheme, ending days of speculation and political tension between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party.

A special committee, led by Rekha Gupta and including ministers Ashish Sood, Virender Sachdeva, and Kapil Sharma, will oversee the implementation of the scheme. A portal will also be launched where eligible beneficiaries can register, and the terms and conditions will be available there. The scheme is open to women in Delhi aged between 18 and 60 years, with an annual family income below Rs 3 lakh, and who are not required to pay income tax. Government employees and those already receiving financial aid from other government schemes are excluded from the program.

The Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Rekha Gupta, approved the scheme with a budget allocation of Rs 5,100 crore on International Women’s Day, Saturday.

“Today, on Women’s Day, we had our Cabinet meeting, and in the presence of all ministers, we approved the Rs 2,500 financial aid under the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, as promised to our sisters in Delhi during our election campaign,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said while addressing the media. “We have allocated Rs 5,100 crore in the Delhi budget for the implementation of the scheme so that our sisters in Delhi can benefit from it,” she added.

The government’s statement emphasized that the scheme would utilize advanced technology for transparency, efficiency, and smooth disbursement of financial benefits, with Aadhaar-based e-KYC being used for verification.

“This initiative is a step towards fulfilling our promise to the women of Delhi. By providing direct financial assistance, we are ensuring economic security, greater independence, and empowerment for women across the city. This scheme is not just a financial benefit but a commitment to building a stronger, more self-reliant community of women in Delhi,” the statement read.

BJP national president JP Nadda praised the approval of the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, stating, “I am happy that Rs 5,100 crore has been allocated for this year so that this scheme can be implemented in Delhi.” He also thanked the women of Delhi, acknowledging that the BJP’s success in the capital would not have been possible without their support.

However, the AAP, which has been critical of the scheme since Rekha Gupta assumed office on February 20, again attacked the BJP government, accusing them of betraying the women of Delhi. Atishi, former Delhi Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised the women of Delhi that Rs 2,500 honorarium would be credited to their accounts by March 8. Today, all the women of Delhi are waiting for the message of Rs 2,500 being deposited into their bank accounts.”

AAP leader Reena Gupta added, “The women of Delhi are angry. They feel cheated. Earlier, they were promised Rs 15 lakh. Now, they are promised Rs 2,500. They just fool us with excuses.”