Summary of this article
Women beneficiaries to receive Rs 1,000, Rs 1,500 goes into RD.
Recurring deposit to have a mandatory three-year lock-in period.
Scheme awaits Cabinet approval before official launch.
Women beneficiaries covered under the proposed Delhi Lakshmi Yojana may receive only Rs 1,000 of the promised Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance directly in their bank accounts. The remaining Rs 1,500 will be deposited into a recurring deposit (RD) account with a three-year lock-in period, according to a government official's statement given to PTI.
Once the three-year period ends, the accumulated savings along with the interest earned will be credited to the beneficiary's bank account.
According to the official, the savings component has been proposed to help women build a financial reserve over time.
The proposal is yet to receive approval from the Delhi Cabinet.
Cabinet Approval Still Pending
The Delhi government has finalised the eligibility criteria for the scheme, which has been renamed the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana from its earlier name, Mahila Samriddhi Yojana.
The proposal is expected to be placed before the Cabinet and, after its approval, sent to the lieutenant governor for clearance before it is formally notified.
According to the official, the government is planning to launch the scheme around Raksha Bandhan. An online portal for applications has also been prepared.
Eligibility Conditions Finalised
Under the proposed rules, applicants will have to submit a self-declaration confirming that they have been residents of Delhi for at least 10 years and do not have a criminal record.
They will also need to provide Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards and documents relating to family members to establish eligibility.
Only one woman between the ages of 21 and 60 from each household will be eligible for the scheme. If more than one woman in a household meets the criteria, only the eldest will receive the monthly assistance.
Applicants whose family members have criminal records will not be eligible under the proposed norms.
Income And Other Criteria
To qualify, the combined annual family income must be below Rs 2.5 lakh. The applicant must also not be receiving a pension.
Government employees, income tax payers, pensioners, and women who own four-wheelers will not be eligible for the scheme.
The Delhi government has earmarked around Rs 5,110 crore for the implementation of the proposed scheme. However, the financial assistance and other provisions will come into effect only after the required approvals are completed and the scheme is officially notified.
