Women sceptical about monthly allowances by political parties
With the Delhi Assembly elections fast approaching, all three major political parties in the Capital have made promises aimed at winning the support of women voters.
Offering monthly allowances to alleviate financial pressure, the AAP, Congress and the BJP have introduced their schemes. The AAP promised assistance of Rs 2,100 under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana’, the Congress pledged Rs 2,500 under the ‘Pyaari Didi Yojna’ and the BJP announced Rs 2,500 under the ‘Mahila Samridhi Yojana’.
However, despite the well-intentioned promises, several women in Delhi remain sceptical about whether these proposals will be realised or if they are simply election tactics.
While some women in the city express cautious optimism, many are hesitant to trust the political parties based on past experiences. The AAP’s Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojna, which was first proposed in the previous election cycle, promised Rs 1,000 per month for women over 18. However, when the time came, no money was distributed, leaving many women feeling disillusioned.
Rajkali, a resident of Inderlok, voiced her concerns, saying, “We did not receive anything earlier. How can we trust them now? The money they offer is just a temporary solution. It’s like a handout — what they give, they take back in other ways. Bigger issues like inflation and the rising cost of living remain unaddressed.”
Agreeing with Rajkali’s sentiment, Hema, another resident from the area, said: “By offering this money, the parties are just trying to secure our votes. They don’t do anything about the skyrocketing prices. Everything is so expensive these days. They think that by giving us a little cash, we will forget about inflation. But that’s not going to solve our problems.”
Some residents, however, see the allowance as a welcome gesture but remain doubtful about its effectiveness in solving deeper issues.
Sitara, a resident of Inderpuri, questioned the financial sustainability of such promises. “Where will the government get all this money from? It’s our own pockets they’ll be taking from through high taxes and increased living costs. They think giving us a little cash will solve everything, but it won’t.”
Despite the skepticism, some women still view the allowance with cautious optimism. Monika, a resident of a nearby locality, said: “While the money will certainly be helpful, I don’t think it will influence votes as all parties are offering something. The real deal-breaker will be the work they’ve done for the people over the years. We need real action, not just promises.”
Young people, especially students, also feel the promise of a monthly allowance could offer them some relief, but remain focused on other pressing concerns like job opportunities.
Hina, a college student, said: “The allowance can be like extra pocket money for things I want, but what we really need are job opportunities. Many students, after competing their higher education, end up unemployed. That’s the real issue we face.”
On the other hand, some women from lower-income groups are more hopeful. Renu, a helper working in a nearby PG, expressed her optimism, saying, “This money will really help my family. I work hard. This allowance will allow me to buy more things for my family. I just hope the party that wins actually delivers on its promise.”
Her neighbour Neelam said: “Extra money is always welcomed, but the government needs to tackle inflation as well. The cost of living is unbearable, and just giving money won’t change that.”
