Delhi Lakshmi Yojana: Only Rs 1,000 in hand, rest earmarked for savings account

New Delhi, Women under the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana will be allowed to withdraw only Rs 1,000 of the promised Rs 2,500 monthly assistance, with the remaining Rs 1,500 mandatorily going to a recurring deposit (RD) account, a government official said on Sunday.

The recurring deposit will have a three-year lock-in period, after which the accumulated amount, along with the interest earned, will be credited to the beneficiary's bank account, he said.

The savings component is aimed at helping women build a financial cushion for the future, the official said.


The proposal for the scheme is yet to receive Cabinet approval.

The Delhi government recently finalised the eligibility criteria for the scheme, renamed Delhi Lakshmi Yojana from its earlier name, Mahila Samriddhi Yojana.

The proposal will be placed before the cabinet and then sent to the lieutenant governor for approval before notification.

The official said the government is planning to launch the scheme around Raksha Bandhan and is likely to place the proposal before the next Cabinet meeting.

An online portal has also been readied, he said.

Under the norms proposed, applicants will have to submit a self-declaration stating they have been residents of Delhi for at least 10 years and have no criminal record.

They must also furnish Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards and family members' documents to establish eligibility, he added.

Only one woman aged between 21 and 60 from each household will be eligible under the scheme. Where more than one woman qualifies, only the eldest will receive the monthly assistance.

Applicants whose family members have criminal records will also be disqualified.

The combined family income must be under Rs 2.5 lakh to be eligible for the scheme, and she must not be a pensioner.

Government employees, income-tax payers, pensioners and women owning four-wheelers will not be eligible.

Around Rs 5,110 crore has been earmarked for its implementation.