Samajwadi Party proposes ₹40,000 annual scheme for women in UP

Ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced the ‘Stree Samman Samriddhi Yojana’, a proposed scheme aimed at empowering women. Under this initiative, Dimple Yadav stated that if the SP forms the government, women would receive an annual financial assistance of ₹40,000, a figure intended to increase over time. The plan also emphasizes self-reliance through access to education, technology, and employment, specifically mentioning provisions for laptops for female students who pass intermediate exams.

Akhilesh Yadav emphasized that the party’s ‘PDA’ formula includes ‘A’ for ‘Aadhi Aabadi’ (half the population), referring to women. He criticized the current administration, claiming their focus on women is merely rhetorical and that safety remains a concern.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded sharply to these promises. BJP leaders, including Minister Gulab Devi and Pooja Pal, questioned the feasibility of the scheme and criticized the SP’s past record regarding women’s safety during their previous tenure. They argued that the SP is attempting to mislead voters with empty promises, contrasting them with existing central and state welfare schemes implemented under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.