CM Rekha Gupta showcases Delhi Lakshmi Yojana in Assembly as Oppn walks out

New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) On the second day of the Monsoon Session of the Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta dismissed false claims made by the Opposition on the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana (DLY) and showcased it as a landmark measure for empowerment of 17 lakh city women.

Responding to questions raised in the House about the DLY that promises Rs 2,500 every month to eligible women, CM Rekha Gupta said the scheme was among Delhi’s biggest welfare initiatives ever.

She said its objective is to financially empower women in Delhi who diligently shoulder the responsibilities of their families and homes, but whose work often goes unrecognised in economic terms.

Criticising Opposition legislators from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said those who claimed to be champions of Delhi’s women did not have the courage to stay back in the House and hear the government’s response.

The Chief Minister said the DLY was among Delhi’s biggest welfare schemes yet. “No government, whether the one that was in power for 15 years or the one that governed Delhi for 11 years, ever brought a scheme of this scale for the women,” she said.

“There were many promises and big claims but not a single rupee was ever given to Delhi’s women under such a scheme. For the first time, a government has shown the courage to implement the scheme,” said CM Rekha Gupta.

The BJP government has fulfilled the promise it made and translated its commitment into action, she said, adding that Rs 5,100 crore had been earmarked for DLY.

She said the scheme has initially been planned for three years so that the first 17 lakh women can benefit from it. If the scheme needs to be expanded later, she said, the government will have no hesitation in doing so.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said some people had repeatedly claimed that the scheme had too many conditions and questioned how women in Delhi would be able to benefit from it.

The condition related to three children was also being raised, with names sometimes being mentioned in this context, she said.

The Chief Minister clarified that if a family wanted to plan or expand its family, it was not required to seek anyone’s permission. Every family plans according to its own needs and circumstances.

–IANS

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