President Droupadi Murmu on Monday launched several key welfare schemes introduced by the Delhi government with the aim of empowering women and girls.
The President said these initiatives – free LPG cylinders for eligible beneficiaries, revamped scholarship programme for girl students, and free bus travel for women – are important steps towards making women self-reliant.
Ms. Murmu added that they would bring “positive change to the lives of women” and contribute significantly towards building a prosperous Capital, according to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
The event, ‘Sashakt Naari, Samriddh Delhi’, was attended by Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and other senior government officials. Explaining the significance of the schemes, Ms. Gupta said, “This day will be remembered as a historic milestone in Delhi’s journey as it celebrates the journey of a daughter – from birth to self-reliance throughout her life.”
In January, the government had approved transferring ₹853, the current price of an LPG cylinder, directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts twice a year. According to the CMO, 17.5 lakh ration card holders are expected to benefit from the scheme. Families with ration cards will receive one free LPG cylinder each during Holi and Deepavali through direct benefit transfer. However, while announcing the decision, the government did not mention providing LPG cylinders at ₹500 per month for women from low-income families that the Bharatiya Janata Party had promised in the run-up to the Assembly election last year.
