Delhi govt says AAP's Mahila Samman Yojana doesn't exist, Arvind Kejriwal a ‘big fraud,’ says BJP leader

As Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders launched a doorstep registration drive for ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’, the Women and Child Development Department of the Delhi government on Wednesday clarified that “no such scheme” exists right now. The development triggered a political row ahead of the Delhi Assembly Election 2025.

This public notice came after AAP ministers, MLAs, and volunteers launched an extensive public outreach campaign to register people for the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ and ‘Sanjeevani Yojana‘.

Reacting to the communique, AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed his political opponents were upset with his party’s ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ and ‘Sanjeevani Yojana’. He also claimed that Chief Minister Atishi could soon be arrested.

“These people are very upset with the Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana. They plan to arrest Atishi ji in the next few days by making a fake case. Before that, raids will be conducted on senior leaders of “AAP”. I will hold a press conference on this today at 12,” he wrote in Hindi on X.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa called Arvind Kejriwal “a big fraud”. He said, “While he was getting forms filled out, his own department [Delhi govt’s Women and Child Development] clarified that there is no such scheme to give an allowance of ₹2,100. Those getting forms filled for the scheme are private people who are doing so to collect data illegally.”

What is AAP’s Mahila Samman Yojana

Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana,’ women residing in Delhi-aged above 18, who are not employed in government or political positions, are eligible for a ₹2,100 monthly allowance.

In its 2024-25 budget, the Delhi government announced the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ scheme will provide ₹1,000 per month to all women over 18.

However, ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal announced that the amount would be raised to ₹2,100 if his party returned to power in the upcoming polls.

An estimated 35-40 lakh women were expected to enrol for the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ and around 15 lakh senior citizens, an official statement said earlier.

Delhi’s govt says Mahila Samman Yojana ‘doesn’t exist’

In a public notice, the Women and Child Development Department of the Delhi government said it received information through media reports and social media posts that “a political party” is claiming to give ₹2,100 per month to the women of Delhi under the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’.

“It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by the Delhi government,” the statement released by the Women and Child Development Department on Wednesday read.

Since no such scheme exists, “the question of acceptance of the form/application for registration under this non-existent scheme does not arise,” the statement further emphasised.

“Any private person/political party who is collecting forms/applications or collecting information from applicants in the name of this scheme is committing fraud and has no authority,” the department said.

Delhi govt warns against sharing personal information

The Delhi government department cautioned citizens that sharing personal details such as bank account information, voter ID card, phone number, residential address or any other sensitive information in the name of this scheme “may lead to the risk of information leaking in the public domain, which may lead to crime/cybercrime/banking fraud.”

The department said, “In such a situation, citizens will be entirely at their own risk and will be held responsible for any consequences.” 

The Delhi government further advised people of the national capital “not to fall prey to the false promises of this non-existent scheme as these are misleading and without any authority.”

It said, “The general public is also requested to exercise extreme caution while sharing personal details with any unauthorized person, to avoid any fraud or data breach in future.” 

Digital platform will be launched

The Delhi government announced that a digital portal will be launched to facilitate registration and submission of the application of eligible persons under the scheme.

“The eligibility criteria and procedure will be clearly notified by the department from time to time. Details of all the schemes of the department are available only on the website of the department,” it said.