If the Chief Minister Mahila Samman Yojana is implemented, the government expenditure on grants, which is currently 15% of the total budget, will go up to 20%, the Finance Department said in a proposal for the Rs 1,000 scheme to the Delhi Cabinet. For women, The Indian Express has learned
The department also said it was “not economically viable to implement the scheme through loans”.
On December 6, The Indian Express The department while submitting its opinion and recommendation has mentioned that there will be high recurring expenditure in such schemes. “unfair and dangerous”Especially when Delhi has to borrow at high cost.
Pushing for the plan’s implementation, Chief Minister Atishi last week told the finance department not to make any decisions “too early”, and directed the finance and planning departments to consider the proposal and submit immediate comments for his approval.
The officials said that they submitted their views to the finance minister on November 9.
Sources said the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, which is implementing the plan and has projected a budget of Rs 4,560 crore, has also cited several “flaws” in the project – it will affect women’s participation in the workforce. Funds are too low to bring about change and the risk of misuse of the scheme, among other things.
In the 2024-25 budget in March, the Delhi government announced that for the first time, women would get a monthly salary of Rs 1,000. Despite the arrest of the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, the implementation of the scheme was delayed.
Many states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand have introduced similar schemes for women.
According to Delhi government officials, the proposed scheme targets women with a family income of less than Rs 3 lakh per annum and is likely to cover around one million women.
“The scheme has its merits but also several significant weaknesses. Unlike other targeted direct transfer benefits, this scheme lacks a clearly identified beneficiary group or a concrete target… Providing a monthly allowance will enhance women’s dignity and empower them to make decisions. It is unclear whether there will be an increase… Also, the amount proposed is unlikely to result in meaningful change at the individual level,” the sources said.
The WCD department, sources said, said the scheme could have an “adverse” effect on women’s labor force participation as the monthly stipend could discourage them from seeking paid employment.
Officials also flagged the risk of identity misuse: “Delhi has a large floating population of migrants. If there is no proper verification, there is a distinct possibility that beneficiaries may move to other states and continue availing this facility, resulting in ghost beneficiaries… There is a need for stricter scrutiny, stronger verification systems, and greater transparency for such administration. is The plans … therefore, the department needs to reconsider it.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has sought a loan from the National Small Savings Fund. “During the current financial year, a provision of Rs 10,000 crore was made in the budget estimates, and the Delhi government requested the Center to release funds under the NSSF loan. But the funds have not come in yet,” officials said.
A cabinet meeting will be held on Thursday morning to discuss the plan.