New Delhi: All political parties have informally begun preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This election is set to be a major test for both the NDA and the INDIA alliance. It will also serve as a litmus test for the performance the INDIA alliance demonstrated in the 2024 elections.
The public mandate will reveal whether the seats won by the INDIA alliance in 2024 were truly a reflection of dissatisfaction with the government or merely a stroke of luck. The BJP is also expected to pull out all the stops to secure a victory in the election. The Yogi government has increasingly focused its attention on women.
The NDA has previously won elections in states like Maharashtra, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh by providing direct benefits to women; work on a similar mission has now begun in Uttar Pradesh. Under the proposed scheme, women will receive financial assistance of ₹50,000. The objective of this scheme is to make women self-reliant.
Scheme Approval Imminent
A final decision on the scheme aimed at empowering women is expected soon. While the scheme has not yet received official approval, there is talk that an initial instalment of ₹20,000 could be disbursed to women before the elections. A proposal to provide the remaining amount in three instalments of ₹10,000 each is currently under consideration.
Who Will Benefit?
The Yogi government’s proposed scheme is expected to prioritise women from economically weaker sections. Women belonging to SC, ST, and BPL categories, as well as those from economically disadvantaged families, are likely to be included. Eligibility may extend to women with an annual income of up to ₹12 lakh.
The UP government’s proposed financial assistance scheme for women is being viewed in the context of similar women-centric schemes running in other states. Following examples such as Bihar’s CM Mahila Rozgar Yojana, Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Behna Yojana, Maharashtra’s CM Majhi Yojana, and Haryana’s Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, the UP government is also considering opening its coffers to support women. These schemes adopt a model of providing direct financial assistance to women.
Growing Importance of Women
A large segment of female beneficiaries has long been considered significant in the BJP’s strategy. The proposed financial assistance scheme of ₹50,000 is now being viewed as the next step in this same strategy. Within the BJP, it is also believed that a scheme offering substantial financial aid to women could serve as a counter to the opposition’s ‘PDA’-centric political narrative.
