BJP’s ‘Lado’ pitch draws Opposition fire

On Haryana Day on November 1, the Nayab Singh Saini Government fulfilled a key poll promise of payment of Rs 2,100 to eligible women under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana.

While the BJP touted the decision as yet another initiative to empower the downtrodden, the Opposition, especially the Congress, was not enthused, alleging that the scheme had been “considerably diluted” since not all women were covered under it.

Transferring an amount of Rs 109.65 crore to the bank accounts of 5.22 lakh eligible women, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini patted his government on the back for fulfilling yet another “Modi ki guarantee.”

“While governments of neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are yet to spare a thought for implementation of similar schemes, the BJP Government has fulfilled yet another pre-poll promise,” Saini claimed, hitting out at the Opposition for ignoring the lower strata of society.

In fact, the implementation of the scheme has come as a shot in the arm for the BJP vis-à-vis the AAP in Punjab, which is yet to implement a similar welfare scheme even after over three-and-a-half years in power. The BJP is trying to find a foothold in Punjab on the strength of its “Haryana model” of good governance in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly polls.

The Rs 2,100 benefit to women was one of the key pre-poll promises of the BJP and proved to be a game changer for the party in the 2024 Assembly polls, giving it a third win in a row. Acting swiftly, Saini made an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore for the scheme in the Haryana Budget earlier this year.

However, the state government put certain riders for potential beneficiaries. These included that the beneficiaries should be 23 years and above and have a family income below Rs 1 lakh per year. This stands in sharp contrast to the pre-poll promise of Rs 2,100 to all women irrespective of age and family income.

That is perhaps why the Opposition Congress is unimpressed by the BJP’s claims. “The BJP Government has diluted the scheme by putting an income slab and excluding the 18-23 age group from its ambit. If the BJP Government wants to empower women, it should pay Rs 2,100 incentive to all women,” demanded Aftab Ahmed, former minister and Nuh MLA.

Even as the BJP and Congress trade barbs, the saffron party’s strategy on welfare schemes is clear. With Bihar polls round the corner, the BJP wants to showcase the successful Haryana model. With the 2027 Punjab polls not far, it aims to drive home the message that BJP-ruled Haryana is financially and politically better managed.

Meanwhile, official sources said the state government was not averse to including more beneficiaries under the scheme in the future. Chief Minister Saini also dropped enough hints to this effect while transferring the first instalment to beneficiaries’ accounts on November 1, suggesting the scope of the Lado Lakshmi Yojana could be widened in the coming phases.