President launches 4 welfare schemes for women

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday launched four major welfare schemes for women in Delhi in the national Capital. The officials described the schemes as a historic step towards women-led development. The mega programme, titled “Sashakt Naari, Samriddh Delhi,” was held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in the presence of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The President formally launched the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, the Saheli Pink Smart Card, a scheme to provide free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali to ration card holders, and the transfer of over Rs 100 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 40,642 girls under the Ladli scheme.

Under the “Meri Punji, Mera Adhikar” initiative, Rs 100.25 crore was transferred directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. In an earlier phase, around `90 crore had been transferred to nearly 30,000 girls. The scheme aims to ensure transparency and timely delivery of benefits.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said women’s empowerment is essential for building a developed India by 2047. She said true empowerment means giving women the ability to make independent decisions, live with dignity, and access education and equal rights. She added that women are excelling in fields such as science, sports, administration, and defence, but challenges like violence and economic inequality must still be addressed.

The President said Delhi, as the national Capital, must present a model of women-led development for the country. She urged society to ensure safety, dignity, and equal opportunities for daughters.

The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana has been introduced as a digital and incentive-based replacement for the Ladli scheme. Under it, Rs 61,000 will be deposited in stages from birth until graduation. The amount will grow to around Rs 1.25 lakh with interest by the age of 21, subject to conditions such as completing graduation or a vocational diploma. A budget provision of Rs 128 crore has been made for the scheme. Girls living in child care institutions will also be included, with the Government acting as guardian. The scheme will operate through a fully digital portal, and its financial management will be handled by SBI Life Insurance Company Limited.

The Saheli Pink National Common Mobility Card was also launched to provide free travel for women in Delhi Transport Corporation buses. The card aligns with the One Nation-One Card vision and will eventually be integrated with other public transport systems, including Metro and RRTS. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described it as a “dignity card” that ensures safety and mobility for women.

In addition, ration card-holding families in Delhi will receive free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali starting in 2026. The benefit will be delivered through DBT. Around Rs 130 crore has already been transferred under this initiative.

Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena said the schemes will directly benefit lakhs of women and strengthen financial security from birth to higher education. He said empowerment must include safety, dignity, and equal participation.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the four schemes aim to provide security from birth, investment in education, freedom of travel, and relief in household expenses. She said empowering women will pave the way for a prosperous Delhi and a developed India. “When a daughter is empowered, families become stronger. When women become self-reliant, society becomes more confident, and when women progress, the path toward a developed Delhi becomes clearer. This day will be remembered as a historic milestone in Delhi’s journey, as it celebrates the entire journey of a daughter from birth to self-reliance throughout her life,” she said.

The event was attended by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra, Delhi Cabinet Ministers Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh, and thousands of beneficiaries.

Four welfare schemes

• Under the “Meri Punji, Mera Adhikar” initiative, Rs 100.25 crore was transferred through DBT to 40,642 eligible girls under the Delhi Ladli Scheme directly into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, ensuring transparency and good governance.
• The Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana has been introduced as a modern, digital and incentive-based replacement for the Ladli scheme. Under the scheme, Rs 61,000 will be deposited in stages in the name of each eligible girl, which will grow to over Rs 1 lakh with interest by the age of 21, subject to conditions such as completion of graduation or a vocational diploma. The scheme will operate through a fully digital, faceless, end-to-end online portal. Its financial management will be handled by SBI Life Insurance Company Limited under the SBI Life Dhanrashi Sadhan framework.
• To strengthen safe and accessible mobility for women, the Saheli Pink National Common Mobility Card has been launched, enabling free travel for women in Delhi Transport Corporation buses in line with the One Nation–One Card vision. This card will eventually be integrated and can be used for travel across various public transit modes, including Metro and RRTS. The Delhi Government has set up around 50 centres across the city to facilitate the issuance of the “Pink Saheli” cards and the distribution process will commence from Tuesday. Around 50 centres, including offices of district magistrates and sub-divisional magistrates, along with select Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) locations, have been established for card issuance, according to a statement.
• Additionally, beginning in 2026, ration card–holding families in Delhi will receive free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali, with the benefit delivered through DBT to ensure transparency.