In an unprecedented move, two departments of Delhi Government have released public notices and disowned the registration process started by Chief Minister Atishi and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for two schemes announced by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the National Capital. The Delhi government’s Health and Family Welfare department and Women and Child Development department on Wednesday issued public notices disowning the existence of schemes, Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojna and cautioned citizens against falling for “misleading schemes” launched by the AAP.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Atishi has stated that strict administrative action will be taken against two officers who released public notices to disown the registration process started by her and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for two schemes. The officers in question are a joint director of the Department of Woman and Child Development and the special secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department.
Atishi, addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters, strongly condemned the notices, claiming that the officers were under pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She insisted that the public notices were false and part of a larger conspiracy by the BJP to undermine the AAP’s initiatives, which had gained significant public support. She added that the party would take legal action, including a Delhi Police inquiry, against the officers for issuing misleading statements. During the press conference, Atishi also shared an official notification from the Cabinet that approved the Rs 1,000 allowance for women under the Mahila Samman Yojana, reaffirming the legitimacy of the scheme.
The fresh controversy will add another dimension to the ongoing tussle between the AAP and the bureaucracy, with accusations flying between parties. The move underlines the tenuous relationship between the bureaucracy and the elected Delhi Government after an amendment to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act, the services department comes under the control of the Lieutenant Governor.
The latest flashpoint, which comes weeks ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, sparked a slugfest between the AAP and BJP leaders. The BJP has accused the ruling party of duping people, since the two schemes have not been approved yet.
The Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), in a public notice in newspapers, has said the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana does not exist and has not been approved by the Delhi government. It has urged citizens to refrain from sharing personal information with individuals or groups claiming association with this “fake scheme”, as it could result in identity theft or financial fraud. “As, if and when such a scheme is notified, the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), GNCTD, will launch a digital portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online as per the approved guidelines. The eligibility conditions and modalities will be clearly notified by the department as and when it happens.
It is emphasised that since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms / applications for the registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise,” it said, adding that any individual collecting forms or information in the name of this scheme is “fraudulent and without any authority”. The department has warned that sharing personal information in the public domain may lead to people falling prey to cybercrime.
In a public notice, the health department has said that it does not have “any such supposed Sanjeevani scheme in existence”. It added that it had not authorised anyone to collect personal data from elderly citizens and was not providing any card. The department said any individual or political party collecting such forms under the name of this scheme is “fraudulent and without any authority”.
“If a person/entity calls you or visits you with the promise to provide benefit of free treatment under this supposed non-existent scheme or provide you some “Health/Sanjeevani Scheme Card in this regard, then you are hereby advised to: (1) not believe in any promise of free treatment under the supposed non-existent “Sanjeevani scheme” (2) not to provide any personal detail to anybody claiming to provide benefits under the scheme (3) not to affix your signature or thumbprint on any document unknowingly.” The department has said it will not be responsible for any liabilities or frauds arising out of such “unscrupulous activities”.
Under the Mahila Samman Yojana, modelled on Maharashtra’s Ladli Behna Yojana that helped the BJP retain power in the state, eligible women will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000. Kejriwal has promised that the amount will be increased to Rs 2,100 if the AAP is re-elected. The Sanjeevani Yojana promises free healthcare for Delhi residents aged 60 and above. The scheme will cover medical expenses of senior citizens in both Government and private hospitals.
This comes after AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Atishi and party convener Arvind Kejriwal, visited several areas and launched doorstep registration for Sanjeevani Yojana and Mahila Samman Yojana. The AAP has also come out with an Artificial Intelligence ad with Arvind Kejriwal in a Santa Claus avatar.
Shortly after the notices, Kejriwal launched a veiled attack at the BJP, saying it was rattled by the AAP’s announcement of welfare initiatives like the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana. “They have planned to arrest Atishi in the next few days in a fabricated case. Before that, raids will be conducted on senior AAP leaders,” Kejriwal tweeted.
In a post on X, Kejriwal also claimed that AAP leaders would be raided in a bid to derail the AAP’s governance agenda. BJP leaders were quick to hit out at the party over the newspaper ads, with Manoj Tiwari cautioning people to be careful as the AAP could siphon off their money.
“We are astonished. Arvind Kejriwal is getting documents signed by people at many places, and the health department is giving advertisements that no such proposal was passed, no agreement happened. Atishi is the Chief Minister, she should answer,” Tiwari said.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused Kejriwal of committing
“digital fraud” by promoting a non-existent scheme. “There is an AAP Government in Delhi, and their own department is issuing a warning to the public that no such scheme exists. Arvind Kejriwal is cheating the people of Delhi. This is Atishi vs Arvind Kejriwal,” Sachdeva said.
According to AAP sources, 1.5 lakh people have been registered for the Sanjeevani scheme so far and 13 lakh women for Mahila Samman Yojana. A team of 3,000 AAP workers are carrying out the doorstep registrations with a target of 5 lakh registrations daily, the sources said.
The departments’ notices play out against the backdrop of the power tussle between Delhi’s elected Government and the Centre. The principal secretaries of all Delhi departments report to the Chief Secretary, a central Government appointee. This, in effect, means that the AAP Government has no control over Delhi officers, an issue it has repeatedly raised in its 10-year rule in the National Capital.
The Supreme Court ruled last year that the Delhi Government would control the services in the capital, but the Centre brought an ordinance and then an Act to overturn this. This Act established the National Capital Civil Services Authority, comprising the Chief Minister, Delhi Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary. This Authority makes recommendations to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor on officials’ transfers and postings and disciplinary matters. The Chief Secretary and Principal Home Secretary are the Centre’s appointees and can easily outvote the Chief Minister.
