Delhi Lakshmi Yojana: You will receive only ₹1,000 out of ₹2,500 in hand; know all the other rules..

Delhi Lakshmi Yojana Update: A major update has emerged regarding the Delhi government's proposed 'Delhi Lakshmi Yojana'. Reports indicate that under this scheme, out of the ₹2,500 monthly financial assistance, women will receive only ₹1,000 directly in hand. The remaining ₹1,500 will be deposited into the beneficiary's Recurring Deposit (RD) account. This RD account will have a lock-in period of three years.

Citing a government official, PTI reported that the proposal is yet to receive approval from the Delhi Cabinet. Let us look at the payment rules, the scheme's objective, and the eligibility criteria for women.

Payment Rules and RD Lock-in

According to the proposed rules, the total monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500 is divided into two parts:

In-hand amount: The female beneficiary will receive ₹1,000 directly each month.

RD Deposit: The remaining ₹1,500 will be deposited monthly into a Recurring Deposit (RD) account.

3-Year Lock-in Period: The ₹1,500 deposited in the RD will remain locked for three years. Upon completion of the three-year term, the accumulated amount along with the accrued interest will be transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank account. This savings component has been included to encourage women towards long-term financial security and savings.

Scheme Renamed; Awaiting Cabinet Approval

The Delhi government had initially named this scheme 'Mahila Samriddhi Yojana'. It has now been renamed 'Delhi Lakshmi Yojana'. The government has finalized the eligibility criteria, and the proposal will soon be placed before the Delhi Cabinet. Once approved by the Cabinet, the proposal will be sent to the Lieutenant Governor. Following approval there, it will be officially notified. The government plans to launch the scheme around Raksha Bandhan. An online portal has also been prepared for this purpose.

What are the eligibility criteria? (Eligibility Criteria)

According to the proposed criteria, only those women who fulfill the conditions listed below will be eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme:

Resident of Delhi: Applicants must submit a self-declaration stating that they have been residents of Delhi for at least 10 years.

No Criminal Record: The applicant must not have a criminal record. Women whose family members have a criminal record will also be disqualified under this scheme.

Age Limit: Only women in the family aged between 21 and 60 years will be eligible.

Only One Woman per Family: Only one woman from each family will receive the benefit. If more than one woman in the same family is found eligible, the eldest woman in the family will receive this monthly assistance.

Income Limit: The total annual income of the family must be less than ₹2.5 lakh.

No Existing Pension: The applicant must not already be receiving any other pension.

Women Excluded from the Scheme

Under the rules, the following categories have been excluded from the scope of the scheme: