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NDTV
22-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi Chief Minister Flags Irregularities In Widow Pension And Disability Aid
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday ordered a full review of the city's welfare schemes, citing "serious irregularities" in widow pensions and disability support handed out under the previous Aam Aadmi Party administration. Chairing a crucial meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Gupta said government aid meant for the most vulnerable was being misused and promised corrective action. "Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our government will not allow such malpractice," Chief Minister Gupta told senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. "Those who truly need help will get it. But those found ineligible will be removed from the list." The remarks come amid rising concerns over transparency in the city's social safety net. The Chief Minister accused the former AAP government of "cheating the underprivileged" and turning a blind eye to lapses that allowed benefits to flow to ineligible individuals. A key reform discussed during the meeting was the rollout of digital ID cards for persons with disabilities (PwDs) to tighten beneficiary records. Officials were also directed to address long delays in issuing disability certificates and streamline coordination between departments. Among the schemes under review is the Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens programme, which pays Rs 2,000 - Rs 2,500 a month to over four lakh beneficiaries, mainly from scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) and low-income groups. The PwD scheme, covering roughly 1.34 lakh individuals, also faces scrutiny over outdated records and inconsistencies in documentation. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS), which offers one-time assistance of Rs 20,000 to families who lose their main earning member, has supported around 1,100 dependants to date. SMILE, a scheme aimed at rehabilitating individuals involved in begging, offers shelter, medical help, counselling, skills training, and livelihood support. Ms Gupta said the government's role goes beyond direct cash aid. "Welfare is not just about handing out money, it also means rehabilitation, education, and livelihood support," she said. The Chief Minister has directed the departments to prioritise data accuracy, digitisation, and faster grievance redressal mechanisms. Officials now have two weeks to submit updated beneficiary lists, with field audits expected to follow. With budgets stretched and public scrutiny rising, the administration faces a key question- can it clean up the system and get support to those who truly need it?
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Rekha Gupta plans review of welfare schemes, eligible to get aid
NEW DELHI: CM Rekha Gupta on Monday announced that all existing welfare schemes will be reviewed to ensure only genuinely deserving individuals receive benefits, while those found ineligible will be removed. She also said the process of issuing digital ID cards to persons with disabilities (PwDs) will begin soon. Accusing the previous government of cheating underprivileged sections of society, she said, 'Many women who were not eligible were granted pensions unchecked. Our government will not allow such malpractice. Those who are truly eligible will receive financial assistance under all circumstances, but those found ineligible will be excluded.' The CM chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The meeting focused on reviewing and improving the implementation of schemes for economically and socially marginalised communities. Key schemes reviewed included the Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens, under which beneficiaries aged 60 and above—particularly from SC/ST and economically weaker backgrounds—receive Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500 monthly. Over four lakh senior citizens have benefited so far. Another key initiative, the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), offers Rs 2,500 per month to individuals with severe disabilities unable to support themselves. Around 1.34 lakh people have been aided under this scheme. The Delhi Family Benefit Scheme (DFBS) provides a one-time financial support of Rs 20,000 to families who have lost their primary breadwinner. So far, about 1,100 dependants have benefited. The SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme was also reviewed. It aims to rehabilitate individuals involved in begging through services like shelter, medical aid, counselling, skill training, and livelihood support. Gupta directed officials to take concrete steps to improve transparency, efficiency, and data digitisation. She said, 'Our aim is to establish a robust, inclusive, and sensitive support system. We will ensure that no deserving individual is left out, and public funds are used responsibly.' The meeting also addressed key challenges such as delays in disability certification, rehabilitation efforts for beggars, and the digitisation of beneficiary records. The CM instructed departments to resolve these swiftly and present a clear action plan.
