President Droupadi Murmu launched four women-centric welfare schemes in Delhi, including Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, Saheli Pink Smart Card, free LPG cylinders, and direct benefit transfers, aiming to empower women from birth to adulthood.
President Droupadi Murmu officially launched four landmark women-centric welfare schemes for the Delhi government on Monday at a grand event titled “Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi” at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The programme drew thousands of women beneficiaries, officials, and dignitaries, marking one of the capital’s most comprehensive welfare drives in recent memory.
The initiatives collectively aim to provide financial security from birth to adulthood, ensure safe and free mobility, deliver long-pending financial entitlements, and reduce household burdens through direct benefit transfers.
President Murmu Sets the Tone
Addressing the gathering, the President said that a woman will truly be empowered when she has the ability to make independent decisions, can live a life with self-respect, and has access to equal opportunities and security.
Murmu said empowered women, with freedom to make decisions, can change the direction of society and the nation. She also praised Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her team for designing what she called people-first governance. “I am confident that all these newly launched schemes will empower the sisters and daughters of Delhi and make a significant contribution towards building a prosperous Delhi,” she said.
The President also referenced broader structural progress for women. She highlighted enhanced political participation through Panchayati Raj institutions and the Nari Shakti Vandan Act as steps towards women-led development.
Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana: From Birth to Graduation
The flagship scheme of the day replaces the older Ladli programme with a fully digital architecture. The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana will deposit ₹56,000 in stages for eligible girls, with maturity expected to exceed ₹1 lakh by age 21, encouraging higher education and professional diplomas.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta elaborated on the scope of the scheme. “We will deposit Rs 61,000 into the account of every girl who completes her graduation. The Delhi government will support daughters from birth until graduation,” she said.
Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena described the programme as “an important milestone in strengthening women empowerment in Delhi,” adding that “the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana lays the foundation for making daughters self-reliant by ensuring support from birth to higher education and vocational training.”
Meri Poonji, Mera Adhikar: Clearing the Backlog
One of the most significant moments of the event came when President Murmu initiated a direct benefit transfer to clear dues that had been frozen in government accounts for years. President Murmu transferred over Rs 100 crore directly into the bank accounts of 40,642 beneficiaries under the Ladli scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer.
CM Gupta did not hold back on addressing the previous government’s record. “When the government investigated, we found that money meant for the Ladli-Ladli scheme for 1.75 lakh girls was lying in government accounts,” she said. In the first phase alone, around 30,000 girls had already received Rs 90 crore before Monday’s disbursement.
Saheli Pink Smart Card: Mobility Without Barriers
Under the Saheli Pink Smart Card initiative, women can now travel anywhere in Delhi on DTC buses without purchasing tickets and without any limit on the number of trips. The card operates on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) framework.
Three types of cards will be issued: Pink for women, Blue for general passengers, and Orange for monthly pass holders. The card can also be used for paid travel on the Delhi Metro and RRTS.
CM Gupta spoke about why the new system fixes past failures. “In the previous government scheme for free travel for women in buses, there were many leakages, scope of corruption,” she said. By linking every scheme to Aadhaar and mobile-based verification, the government aims to eliminate middlemen and ensure that 100% of the benefits reach the intended recipients.
Delhi now joins states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra in expanding pink-themed mobility initiatives.
Free LPG Cylinders via DBT
The fourth scheme targets household relief. President Murmu also launched a scheme providing two free LPG cylinders annually to ration card-holding families on Holi and Diwali. The Rs 129-crore benefit will be transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer.
A Policy Framework, Not Just a Promise
CM Rekha Gupta framed the day in larger political terms. She described the occasion as a “golden chapter” in Delhi’s history, saying the initiatives were not merely policy announcements but a pledge of respect and trust towards women. She said women’s empowerment is not just a policy but a national resolution now. “Our women-centric government, through these four schemes, provides safety starting from the birth of a girl child, investment in their education, transportation independence and relief in the kitchen,” Gupta said.
The broader impact of these measures lies in their layered approach, with mobility, financial independence, and household support working together rather than in isolation.
The event was also attended by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, and Cabinet Ministers Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh.
With these four schemes now live, Delhi’s women-centric policy landscape has shifted from intent to implementation, and the capital is watching closely to see whether delivery matches the scale of the promise.
With these four schemes now live, Delhi’s women-centric policy landscape has shifted from intent to implementation, and the capital is watching closely to see whether delivery matches the scale of the promise.
Clear Cut Education, Gender Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: March 05, 2026 01:13 IST
Written By: Ayushman Meena
