Various types of promises have been made to women by all political parties regarding the assembly elections in Delhi. The Congress party has promised to give Rs 2500 every month under the ‘Pyaari Didi Yojana’, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has made an election promise of giving Rs 2100. BJP is also not lagging behind in this race and along with giving Rs 2500 per month to women, the party has also promised to give Rs 21000 to pregnant women. Apart from this, to challenge AAP, BJP has also promised to give pension to senior citizens.
Parties focus on women voters
This is not the first time that political parties are trying to bring women to their side by promising them direct benefits. Such efforts have been taking place across the country in the past as well so that women voters can be included who play a decisive role in voting. It has also been seen in the recent elections that promises have been made by political parties keeping women in focus. Apart from the central schemes for women’s welfare, state governments have also been spending huge amounts of money on women-related schemes.
Research shows that such schemes have had a big impact on vote share and turnout. The political party which announces schemes for women also gets women’s votes in large numbers. In many elections, women’s vote has also been decisive in the victory of political parties. A box of schemes for women has been opened by the Center and States in the year 2024-25 so that women voters can be directly reached.
There have been efforts across the country for gender equality and women’s welfare and both the central and state governments have spent huge budgets on schemes related to women. In such schemes implemented in the financial year 2024-25, apart from financial help, emphasis has been laid on health, security, education and women empowerment.
Center’s schemes for women
In the Union Budget 2024-25, a fund of Rs 3.10 lakh crore was allocated for schemes related to women empowerment, which is 38.7 percent more than the previous financial year. This is about 6.5 percent of the total budget. The following schemes have been implemented by the Center for women.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme: The budget of this scheme implemented for the safety and empowerment of girls is Rs 629 crore, which includes facilities like one stop centers and women’s helpline.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: This is a savings scheme which comes under ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ and the interest rate in it has now been increased to 8.2 percent.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandan Yojana (PMMVY): A fund of Rs 2500 crore has been allocated for this scheme in which financial assistance is provided to pregnant and lactating women.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Under this scheme, housewives are given a subsidy of Rs 300 on every LPG cylinder. Also, the total budget of the scheme is Rs 12 thousand crores.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural): The budget of this scheme is Rs 7192 crore, the objective of which is to make rural areas free from open defecation, and the scheme also includes waste management.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Under this scheme, tap water is being supplied to rural areas and a fund of Rs 70163 crore has been earmarked for this.
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM): Under this scheme with a total budget of Rs 15047 crore, women’s self-help groups are supported and help is provided for their livelihood in rural areas.
Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition Mission 2.0: Under this scheme, help is provided to improve the upbringing of newborn children and its budget is Rs 21200 crore.
Apart from the Centre, important steps have also been taken by the state governments towards women empowerment. Schemes focusing on women have been implemented in many states of the country, some examples of which are given below.
Madhya Pradesh
So far, Rs 24494 crore has been spent in the state on Ladli Behan Yojana, in which an amount of Rs 1250 per month is given to women of low income group. Apart from this, Rs 524 crore has been spent in Ladli Laxmi Yojana. Rs 1191 crore has been spent in PM Matru Vandan Yojana, which is a scheme related to women’s health care.
Chhattisgarh
Here, Rs 5236 crore has been distributed under Mahtari Vandan Yojana and in just 8 months, more than 70 lakh women of the state have got the benefit of the scheme.
Telangana
Under Mahalakshmi Scheme, free public transport is being provided to women and more than three thousand crores have been spent on this scheme. Women of the state have also saved about Rs 2840 crore by taking advantage of this scheme.
Delhi
Under the Chief Minister Mahila Samman Yojana, about 50 lakh women in the capital are to be given Rs 1,000 per month and a fund of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for this scheme. Whereas the focus of Laadli Scheme is on the education of girls. Similarly, women have received Rs 4794 crore under widow pension. Rs 284 crore has also been allocated for the Nirbhaya Fund implemented for women’s safety.
Maharashtra
So far Rs 2.3 crore have been spent on the Ladki Bahin scheme in the state, for which a total of Rs 46000 crore has been allocated. This scheme has been implemented with the aim of providing financial assistance to women. In Uttarakhand also, financial assistance is being given to women by implementing a scheme worth Rs 14538 crore.
Both the central and state governments are investing a lot of money for women’s welfare. In this, not only are women being made financially strong but their health, education and security are also being taken full care of. From these schemes, changes can be expected in the lives of millions of women in the coming years. Similarly, in Delhi too, political parties hope that by promising such schemes, they can get the votes of women.