Delhi Budget boosts social welfare women and child development schemes

New Delhi: The social welfare and security sector continues to sit at the heart of Delhi’s budget, with a substantial outlay of Rs 10,537 crore. Of this, Rs 2,392 crore has been earmarked for social welfare and Rs 7,406 crore for women and child development (WCD), signalling a continued push towards inclusive growth.

Building on the Antyodaya vision, Delhi govt has outlined a series of measures aimed at strengthening support systems for vulnerable groups. These include plans for a new home for visually impaired students and the launch of the Vayo Anand Yojana, backed by Rs 25 crore. Under this initiative, a platform will be provided for recreational activities for senior citizens. “This step aims to bring joy and engagement into the lives of Delhi’s elderly,” chief minister Rekha Gupta said in her budget speech.

Children in institutional care, often left at the margins, are also getting attention. A dedicated Rs 3.5 crore aftercare fund has been proposed to help them transition into mainstream society. The idea is to go beyond shelter and address long-term needs, such as education, skills and livelihood support.

Alongside these structural interventions, the budget retains several welfare measures. These include Rs 260 crore for subsidised LPG cylinders during Holi and Rs 450 crore for free bus travel for women, now extended to transgender persons, reflecting a broader inclusion push.

A major highlight of this year’s budget under the women’s sector is the Dilli Lakhpati Beti Yojana, which replaces the Ladli scheme. Describing it as one of Delhi govt’s most ambitious initiatives, CM Gupta said under the scheme, Rs 61,000 will be deposited in a girl child’s account from birth till graduation, growing to Rs 1.2 lakh at maturity. A budgetary allocation of Rs 128 crore has been proposed for this.

Betting on skills and market linkages, govt has allocated Rs 10 crore for Mahila Haat, to be rolled out as Rani Haat. The idea is to connect women’s skills to real market opportunities and strengthen self-help groups in the process. “True self-reliance begins when skills meet markets,” said CM.

Meanwhile, the childcare support ecosystem will also get a boost. Anganwadis will be upgraded into model centres, with an allocation of Rs 33 crore. Palna facilities for working women will also be expanded.

On the safety front, Delhi govt is pushing a mix of infrastructure and technology, with plans including smart street lighting in dark spots, expansion of CCTV coverage, 11 new one-stop centres for women and improved menstrual hygiene access in schools through large-scale distribution and vending machines.