Launch and Vision of Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana
On 15 September 2025, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana, a targeted welfare programme designed to lift the educational prospects of girl children across the capital. The initiative promises a one‑time cash grant of up to INR 5 lakh to families that commit to keeping their daughters in school until the completion of higher secondary education, alongside a suite of scholarships, mentorship networks and community‑driven awareness campaigns. By foregrounding education as the most potent catalyst for gender equity, the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana seeks to dismantle historic barriers that have kept girls out of classrooms, particularly in low‑income neighborhoods where enrollment gaps remain stark. The launch, attended by educationists, civil‑society leaders and senior AAP officials, underscored the government’s intent to align the scheme with national priorities such as the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality.
Core Objectives and Direct Benefits
The Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana is built around four interlocking objectives that together create a holistic support ecosystem for girl students. First, it offers a conditional financial grant that can be utilized for school fees, learning materials, transport or home‑based enterprises, thereby reducing the economic burden on marginalized families. Second, the scheme establishes a scholarship corridor covering tuition, textbooks and transport allowances for eligible female learners pursuing professional courses at recognized institutions. Third, it creates mentorship networks linking secondary‑school girls with experienced women professionals, providing career guidance, role‑model exposure and confidence‑building workshops. Finally, the programme includes a robust awareness drive, co‑crafted with NGOs and community leaders, to challenge deep‑rooted stereotypes about girls’ education and to encourage families to envision daughters as future contributors to the economy. Each component is designed to reinforce the others, ensuring that financial support alone does not dictate success; rather, it is complemented by mentorship, academic resources and societal advocacy.
Eligibility Criteria and Implementation Framework
To qualify for benefits under the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana, a household must meet several clear criteria aimed at targeting the most vulnerable while preserving fiscal responsibility. The girl student must be a resident of Delhi and enrolled in a government‑approved school or college, with a minimum attendance record of 75 percent throughout the academic year. Household income must not exceed INR 12 lakh per annum, ensuring that assistance reaches families most in need. Additionally, the applicant must have successfully cleared the previous class without any back‑log, signalling a commitment to academic progression. The rollout is coordinated by the Department of Women and Child Development in partnership with the Delhi Education Authority, municipal bodies and a consortium of private‑sector sponsors. Applications are submitted through an online portal that streamlines document verification, tracks disbursementstatus and provides real‑time updates to applicants. For detailed guidance, prospective beneficiaries can consult the official portal at wcd.delhi.gov.in/lakhpati. 
Financial Architecture and Funding Allocation
The financial backbone of the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana rests on an initial allocation of INR 1,200 crore for the first implementation phase, with a clear roadmap for scaling up budgets in subsequent years based on performance audits. The scheme blends direct cash transfers, conditional scholarships and in‑kind support such as school uniforms, learning‑material kits and transport vouchers. By distributing funds across these modalities, the government aims to alleviate immediate financial pressures on families while incentivising sustained school attendance. A transparent audit mechanism, featuring third‑party evaluations and a public dashboard that logs disbursements in real time, will monitor utilization and deter misuse. Moreover, the programme seeks to leverage corporate social‑responsibility (CSR) contributions from private enterprises, thereby augmenting the fiscal pool and fostering a public‑private partnership model that can be replicated in other states seeking similar gender‑focused welfare interventions.
Projected Impact on Girls’ Enrollment and Retention
Early impact assessments conducted in pilot districts of East Delhi and South‑West Delhi during the 2024‑25 academic year have already documented a 12 percent rise in the number of girls completing Class 12 compared with baseline figures. Education analysts project that, if rolled out statewide, the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana could boost female enrolment rates by up to 15 percent within the next five years, particularly in districts where gender gaps in secondary education exceed 20 percent. The mentorship component is expected to improve retention among adolescent girls, who often discontinue schooling due to early marriage, domestic responsibilities or lack of role models. By coupling financial incentives with socio‑emotional support, the scheme anticipates a measurable increase in academic performance, higher progression rates to higher education and improved employment prospects for beneficiaries. Such outcomes would not only advance gender equity but also generate broader socio‑economic dividends, including healthier families and a more skilled workforce.
Community Reception, Political Context and Future Monitoring
The launch of the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana has sparked a lively discourse across political and civic spheres. While a majority of education experts and women’s rights organisations have praised the initiative as a watershed moment for girl child empowerment, opposition parties have raised concerns about fiscal sustainability and the need for stringent oversight to prevent fund leakage. In response, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta affirmed that the programme will be subjected to quarterly progress reviews, with transparent reporting of key indicators such as enrolment ratios, dropout rates and post‑graduation employment metrics. The Delhi Government has pledged to publish these metrics on an open‑access dashboard, enabling civil‑society watchdogs and media to hold the administration accountable. Looking ahead, the scheme will be evaluated against a defined set of performance benchmarks, and learnings from the pilot phase will inform iterative improvements. If successful, the Delhi LakhpatiBitiya Yojana could serve as a blueprint for other Indian states aiming to close gender gaps in education, reinforcing India’s broader commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
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