On June 4, the Delhi Finance Minister announced a new scheme for women, Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, where every woman resident of Delhi was to get Rs. 1,000 monthly. 

A fortnight later Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren announced the same scheme for women in Jharkhand on June 21. In Delhi, it is a women’s welfare scheme. 

It was announced by the Delhi Finance Minister during the Delhi Government’s 2024 budget speech. Under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, every woman above 18 years will receive Rs. 1,000 monetary assistance every month. 

The primary objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to women belonging to economically weaker sections and help them lead dignified lives and become financially independent. 

In Jharkhand where Assembly polls are expected to be held by the end of 2024, the CM Champai Soren wants to launch the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana to benefit 38-40 lakh women. 

However, Champai Soren did not talk about the Delhi government’s scheme. Instead, he said that his government will follow the West Bengal government’s Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme. 

Similar to the Delhi government’s scheme, the Bengal government’s Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme is an initiative launched by the Mamata Banerjee Government of West Bengal in February 2021. 

The program is aimed at providing financial assistance to the women of the state. It is also mainly targeted to empower women belonging to the economically weaker section of society. 

Ahead of the Assembly polls, the Champai Soren government seems to be in a hurry to implement this scheme for women in the age group of 25-50. 

However, while reviewing the works of the state women, child development, and social security department, he directed its officers to “quickly” start “Mukhyamantri Bahan- Beti Swalambhan Protsahan Yojna”. 

As of now, no estimate is made on the financial viability of the above scheme. Neither, the finance department has received any document on this ambitious scheme for empowerment of women in Jharkhand.