Delhi Govt depts term AAP’s welfare schemes ‘non-existent’

A controversy erupted on Wednesday when two departments of the Delhi Government issued notices in newspapers, cautioning the public and disowning the registration process started by CM Atishi and her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal for two recently announced welfare schemes.

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The ruling-AAP termed the notices “fake and baseless” and asserted that administrative as well as legal action would be taken against officials who got such advertisements printed.

To woo voters, AAP has recently announced two welfare schemes — Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana. Under these, women have been promised a higher monthly assistance of Rs 2,100, if AAP returns to power, and a complete health coverage for senior citizens, respectively. The women and child development and health departments have issued notices, cautioning people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for “non-existent” schemes, saying any individual or political party collecting such forms or information is “fraudulent and without any authority”.

“If such a scheme is notified, the department will launch a portal for eligible individuals to submit their applications online... Since no such scheme exists, the question of physical forms for the registration does not arise,” the notice read.

Kejriwal accused the BJP of arm-twisting government officials and pressuring them to issue notices. “The BJP is rattled by the popularity of these schemes and doesn’t want the people of Delhi to benefit,” he said.

He clarified that the Delhi Cabinet had already approved a plan to give Rs 1,000 to every woman, and a notification had been issued.