Delhi Budget: Special allocations for poll promises in social sector

Ahead of the elections, the BJP had made multiple promises of which three — implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme, development of Atal canteens and the ambitious Rs 2,500-crore monthly assistance for eligible women — have found a special allocation in the Budget for the current financial year.

For the implementation of the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Delhi Government has allocated a sum of Rs 2,144 crore in the Budget.

“Despite continuous requests by the Central Government, the scheme was not implemented in Delhi only because the then Chief Minister was? adamant that his name should be added to this scheme...On the day I took charge, immediately after the oath, the first cabinet meeting was held where a decision was made to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Delhi,” CM Rekha Gupta said while presenting the Budget in the Assembly.

A sum of Rs 5,100 crore of the total Budget was allocated for the Mahila Samridhi Yojna under which eligible women will get a monthly payment of Rs 2,500.

She said the scheme would soon be launched in Delhi, providing residents with Rs 5 lakh insurance coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Arogya Mandir and Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission. Additionally, the government will top up this coverage with an extra Rs 5 lakh insurance for the people of Delhi.

Notably, the BJP had in its poll manifesto also decided to launch “Atal canteens” in JJ clusters to provide nutritious meals at an extremely cheap rate of Rs 5.

Giving details in the budgetary allocation for that, the CM said, “Food is a basic necessity for every person. To enhance food security and improve the nutritional status of economically weaker sections, we are launching 100 ‘Atal canteens’ across Delhi in honour of the birth centenary year of the late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A provision of Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the initiative,” she said.