Rs 2,100 vs Rs 1,000: Why BJP is set to take Haryana Lado Lakshmi pitch to Punjab polls

10:08 PM ETDeveloping

Health Desk

In Short: The BJP is expanding Haryana's Lado Lakshmi Yojana to include more women, aiming to contrast its Rs 2,100 monthly assistance with Punjab's Rs 1,000 scheme.

The expansion of Haryana's Lado Lakshmi Yojana is expected to bring nearly 27 lakh more women into its ambit, bringing the total to around 20 lakh women covered by the scheme. This move is part of the BJP's strategy to target the upcoming Punjab elections, where women voters are a significant constituency.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reported that 74.59 lakh women had registered for the scheme, with financial assistance for 65.62 lakh women transferred in the July-September quarter. However, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini denies claims that the scheme's reach is limited, stating that all women will continue to receive benefits under other government schemes.

Party leaders believe the comparison between Haryana's Rs 2,100 monthly assistance and Punjab's Rs 1,000 monthly assistance under the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhiyan Satkar Yojana will generate political debate in Punjab, where women voters are a significant constituency. While Punjab's scheme is near-universal for women aged 18 and above, only income-tax payees, government employees, and serving or former MPs and MLAs are excluded from the benefits.

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According to the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, women accounted for 1.02 crore — 47.45% — of the state’s 2.15 crore electorate.
Haryana AAP president and ex- Rajya Sabha MP, Sushil Gupta said the Lado Lakshmi Yojana’s reach was limited because several eligibility conditions were imposed, and that BJP leaders had promised before the 2024 Haryana elections to extend the benefit to all women.
“It would certainly attract voters in Punjab too, as they would have a chance to get policies like those implemented in Haryana by giving BJP a chance there,” Attrey claimed.

Sources

The Indian Expresslink