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The registration for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, promising Rs 2,100 per month to every woman in Delhi above the age of 18, started on Monday
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. (File pic/PTI)
Reaching almost half of its potential beneficiaries in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi party’s Mahila Samman scheme seems to be gathering steam with around 10 lakh registrations done on Wednesday, taking the total number of sign-ups to a staggering 22 lakh.
The registration for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, promising Rs 2,100 per month to every woman in the city above the age of 18, started on Monday.
It faced backlash from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress after newspapers across the national capital on Wednesday carried public notices from the women and child development (WCD) department of the Delhi government warning the people that they are not running any such scheme, as promised by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Row boosted numbers?
Speaking to News18, an AAP leader said the controversy seems to have helped the party.
“There has been a consistent rise in the registrations. On the first day, Monday, just five lakh registrations took place, but on the third day (Wednesday), ten lakh women enrolled for the scheme—double from day one,” the leader said, requesting anonymity.
The party is expecting that there could be around 35 to 40 lakh potential beneficiaries in the national capital for the scheme.
“If we go by this speed, we will cover the entire city before this weekend. This itself shows the trust of people in (Arvind) Kejriwal,” the leader added.
A poll promise of AAP convener Kejriwal, the Mahila Samman Yojana offers Rs 2,100 to all women in Delhi above 18 years of age. They will get the money every month as direct monetary support in their bank accounts.
The registration started on December 23, days after Kejriwal announced the scheme. On December 24, Tuesday, 7.5 lakh registrations took place under the scheme.
On Wednesday morning, sharing the data till Tuesday evening, Kejriwal said that almost 12.50 lakh women have registered for the scheme.
It is important to note that the implementation of the scheme will take place only after the elections are completed in Delhi early next year and if AAP retains power.
The controversy
On Wednesday, there was a public notice in newspapers from the department of women and child development that said it had learnt about a claim of a political party that it will disburse Rs 2,100 per month under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana to women in Delhi.
“It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by the Government of Delhi,” it said, adding that if and when such a programme is notified, the department will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online as per the approved guidelines.
“Details of all WCD Department Schemes are available only on the website of the Department. It is emphasized that since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms/applications for the registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise,” it said.
The department also warned the public that any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms and applications or collecting information from applicants under the name of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana is fraudulent and without any authority.
“Citizens are cautioned that sharing personal details, such as bank account information, voter ID card, phone numbers, residential address, or any other sensitive information in the name of this scheme, are at a collateral risk of putting out information in public domain that may lead to crime/cybercrime/banking fraud, targeting them and they will be entirely at their own risk and will be liable for any such consequences,” it added.
