Now, Cong announces women scheme promising Rs 2500/month

In a bid to woo women voters and a response to AAP's announcement of monthly allowance for women, the Congress party on Monday unveiled its first guarantee scheme, the ‘Pyaari Didi Yojana’. It promises a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500 for every woman in the National Capital if the party comes to power.

The announcement was made by Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, along with Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, at a press conference held at the Delhi Congress office.

“We have seen the positive impact of similar schemes in Karnataka, where every family is saving Rs 4,000 to 5,000 per month thanks to our guarantees. We aim to bring the same change to Delhi,” said Shivakumar. The monthly allowances would be deposited directly into women’s accounts. The Congress proposes to implement the scheme in the first Cabinet meeting of the new government.

“Our tagline will be:Hogi har jarurat puri, Congress hai jaruri (Every need will be fulfilled, Congress is needed),” said Devender Yadav. He also took a direct jibe at the Delhi government's failure to meet promises made to the city’s residents. “For 11 years, Arvind Kejriwal has shown nothing but empty promises to the people of Delhi,” he said.

The Congress party’s proposal comes as a response to AAP’s earlier promise to provide Rs 2,100 monthly allowance to women if re-elected for a fourth consecutive term. Congress, however, claims its proposal is more comprehensive. “I challenge the 'temporary' CM and former CM Arvind Kejriwal to show the passbooks of women and tell us how much they have transferred into their accounts,” said Congress leader Alka Lamba, the party's candidate from Kalkaji.