Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced on Wednesday that the city’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department would face strict action for issuing a public notice against the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana. She criticized the department’s move as misleading and an attempt to undermine a significant initiative aimed at empowering women in the capital.
The controversy unfolded after the WCD Department issued a clarification, stating that no official notification had been issued regarding the scheme. This came just days after AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal publicly announced that registrations for the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana,’ which promises Rs 2,100 in monthly financial assistance for women in Delhi, would begin on December 23.
In its public notice, the WCD Department cautioned citizens, stating that any private individual or political group collecting personal information or processing registrations under the name of the scheme was engaging in fraudulent activities. “It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by the Delhi Government,” the department declared in its statement, which was published prominently in national newspapers on Wednesday.
Reacting strongly, CM Atishi said that such actions not only create confusion among the public but also attempt to sabotage a welfare program designed to address women’s financial independence and dignity. She assured that a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the matter and that those responsible would be held accountable.
The Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, widely regarded as a cornerstone of AAP’s welfare agenda, aims to provide direct economic support to women, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds. Kejriwal, while announcing the scheme, had emphasized its role in empowering women and enhancing their participation in household decision-making.
Atishi also urged citizens to stay informed and rely only on official communications from the government, emphasizing that any updates regarding the scheme would be shared transparently through verified channels. She reiterated her commitment to ensuring that the initiative would move forward without any further hurdles.