Delhi Budget 2024 Live Updates: Government Launches New Scheme to Empower Women

Delhi Finance Minister Atishi unveiled the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana’ during her budget speech on Monday, marking a significant initiative aimed at empowering women in the capital. Under this scheme, women above the age of 18 will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 starting from the fiscal year 2024-25. However, government employees, income taxpayers, and pensioners will not be eligible for this benefit.

“The Kejriwal government is committed to providing financial assistance to every woman aged 18 or above. Through the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, women will receive this support,” stated Atishi during her address.

As the Delhi government unveiled its Rs 76,000 crore budget for the upcoming fiscal year, Atishi highlighted a marginal decrease of Rs 2000 crores compared to the previous year. Notably, the government has allocated Rs 16,396 crore for education in FY25, representing approximately 21% of the total budget outlay.

“In 2014, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Delhi stood at Rs 4.95 lakh crores. Over the past decade, Delhi’s GSDP has surged by two and a half times to reach Rs 11.08 lakh crores,” Atishi remarked, underlining the city’s economic growth trajectory.

Meanwhile, government sources disclosed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in response to the latest summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the excise policy case, expressed his willingness to participate in a video-conferencing session with the agency after March 12. Kejriwal has previously refrained from attending multiple ED summons, challenging their legality and urging the agency to await court decisions on the matter.