Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said that the poll promise of a ₹2,500 monthly financial dole for poor women in the national capital would be launched soon. She also mocked the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for either failing to implement similar schemes despite promises or doing so without adequate funding.
In a podcast-style interview with actor Anupam Kher to mark the Delhi government’s 100 days in office, Gupta said, “We have held six meetings to form the policy on the matter, and I have allocated ₹5,100 crore in the Budget for the Mahila Samridhi Yojana.”
Gupta said her government does not want to falter like the Himachal Pradesh government, which enthusiastically announced a financial scheme but later ran out of funds to support it.
She also criticised the previous Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, which, just before the Lok Sabha elections, promised ₹1,000 per month to women in Delhi but failed to deliver.
“The AAP government in Punjab has also failed to start the financial assistance scheme despite announcements,” she said.
Admitting that women in Delhi have high expectations from the BJP government, Chief Minister Gupta assured that the Mahila Samridhi Yojana would be rolled out soon for eligible women. “We want the scheme to be a long-term, beneficial initiative without disruptions,” she added.
Reflecting on the BJP’s 10 years in opposition during AAP’s rule, she said party workers and leaders stayed strong and continued to work with the people as public representatives.
“When we saw that the people of Delhi were being wronged, when corruption was being exposed every day, when liquor shops were opening on every street — we were in the midst of that struggle… Overall, in these 10 years, Delhi fell behind. But wherever we could make a difference, we stayed among the people and worked for them,” she said.
She added that winning back the trust of the people in just 100 days was a challenge, as many were disillusioned after the anti-corruption movement — which began at Ramlila Maidan — failed to live up to its promises.
“People who were looking for honest governance were hurt. They again lost faith in politicians. But my Cabinet members and I have tried to remain present among the people, and this is helping to heal the people of Delhi, who have suffered for 27 years,” claimed CM Gupta, adding that the Yamuna River and the city at large suffered due to the neglect of previous governments.
IANS
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