Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, 10 August took the floor of the Delhi Legislative Assembly during the Monsoon Session to defend the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana (DLY), dismissing Opposition criticism as unfounded and positioning the scheme as the most consequential welfare initiative for women in the capital's recent history. The session's second day was marked by an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) walkout before the government could complete its response.

What the Scheme Offers

The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana promises a monthly cash transfer of ₹2,500 to eligible women in Delhi, with an initial target of 17 lakh beneficiaries. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has earmarked ₹5,100 crore for the scheme, which is planned over a three-year initial phase. Chief Minister Gupta indicated the government would consider expanding the scheme beyond this cohort if required.

What the Government Said

Addressing the House, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta framed the DLY as a long-overdue recognition of women's unpaid domestic labour. 'No government, whether the one that was in power for 15 years or the one that governed Delhi for 11 years, ever brought a scheme of this scale for the women,' she said. She added: 'There were many promises and big claims but not a single rupee was ever given to Delhi's women under such a scheme. For the first time, a government has shown the courage to implement the scheme.'

Gupta also addressed concerns raised about eligibility conditions, including a clause related to family size. She clarified that families were not required to seek any external permission in matters of family planning, and that every household makes such decisions according to its own needs and circumstances.

AAP's Response and the Walkout

Opposition legislators from the Aam Aadmi Party walked out of the Assembly before the Chief Minister concluded her remarks. Gupta did not hold back in her assessment of the move, saying those who claimed to champion Delhi's women 'did not have the courage to stay back in the House and hear the government's response.' This is the second consecutive session day to see friction between the treasury benches and the AAP opposition over the DLY.

Context and Political Stakes

The DLY has been a centrepiece of the BJP's governance pitch since it came to power in Delhi, fulfilling a pre-election promise. Critics, including AAP legislators, have questioned the scheme's eligibility criteria, arguing that conditions attached to the benefit could exclude a significant portion of women who need it most. The government has pushed back, maintaining that the scheme is among the broadest direct-benefit transfers ever offered at the state level in India. Notably, direct cash transfers to women have become a standard political instrument across state governments — from Maharashtra to Madhya Pradesh — making Delhi's version part of a wider national pattern.

What Comes Next

With ₹5,100 crore budgeted and the three-year rollout underway, the government's next challenge is operationalising disbursements to 17 lakh women efficiently and transparently. The Monsoon Session is expected to continue, with further debate on the DLY likely as the AAP has signalled it will keep pressing the issue outside the House.