New Delhi, Mar 2(.) President Droupadi Murmu and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday launched a series of women-focused welfare initiatives, including the ‘Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’, a scheme for free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali, the ‘Saheli Pink Smart Card’, and a direct bank transfer of over Rs 100 crore to beneficiaries.
At a special programme titled ‘Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi’ held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the President formally inaugurated the ‘Pink Card’ scheme, aimed at enhancing mobility and financial empowerment of women in the national capital.
Selected eligible women beneficiaries were presented with the Pink National Common Mobility Cards (NCMC) at the event. The Pink Card will provide free travel to women residents of Delhi on DTC buses and enable seamless paid access to the Metro, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and other public transport services through a single smart card.
Under the scheme, three types of NCMC cards will be issued, the Pink Card for eligible women residents of Delhi, the Blue Card for general commuters, and the Orange Card for monthly pass users. In the initial phase, the Pink and Blue Cards will be rolled out, followed by the Orange Card at a later stage.
The President also launched a new welfare initiative to provide two free LPG cylinders annually to all ration card-holding families in Delhi. The benefit will be extended on the occasions of Holi and Diwali each year. Financial assistance under the scheme will be transferred directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
During the event, the President unveiled the Delhi Government’s ambitious ‘Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana’. The existing Ladli Scheme has been expanded and restructured into the new initiative to provide enhanced financial security for girl children.
Under the previous structure, Rs 11,000 was deposited in the name of each eligible girl child in case of an institutional birth and Rs 10,000 in case of a home birth. Additionally, Rs 5,000 was deposited at key educational milestones, admission to Classes I, VI and IX, passing Class X, and admission to Class XII. The accumulated amount, along with interest, could be withdrawn at the age of 18.
Under the revamped scheme, a total of Rs 56,000 will now be deposited in stages in the name of the girl child. With accrued interest, the maturity value is expected to exceed Rs 1 lakh by the age of 21.
In addition, 40,642 eligible beneficiaries under the Delhi Ladli Scheme who had long awaited their maturity amounts received Rs 100.25 crore through digital Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The disbursement was carried out under the initiative titled ‘Meri Punji, Mera Adhikar’, ensuring timely financial support to beneficiaries.
. PKJ RSA