Delhi Lakshmi Yojana to begin monthly pension payments in September

The Delhi government is preparing to roll out the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, a welfare scheme providing monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to eligible women. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that official pension letters will be distributed during a ceremony at Talkatora Stadium on August 27, with the first payments scheduled to be credited directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts starting September 1.

The scheme targets women aged 21 to 60 who are permanent Delhi residents with an annual family income not exceeding Rs 2.5 lakh. Since the portal launched on August 1, approximately 800,000 women have registered, with over 500,000 applications submitted. To facilitate the process, the government plans to introduce a feature on the official portal allowing applicants to correct errors in their submissions.

However, the Delhi High Court has raised concerns regarding the application requirements. A Division Bench questioned the necessity of obtaining endorsements from local MPs or MLAs, noting that such requirements are not explicitly listed in the scheme's eligibility criteria and may create unnecessary barriers for applicants. The court has directed the government to provide further instructions on the matter.