AAP VOLUNTEERS and leaders will move from home to home across Delhi from Monday to register people for two state government schemes — the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana — which the party believes can be the gamechanger in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Announcing the launch of the registration campaign Sunday, AAP leader and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal unveiled prototypes of two cards — one yellow and the other blue.
The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana, under which non-tax paying women up to the age of 60 will be given Rs 1,000 per month, was announced as part of the Delhi government’s Budget in March this year but is yet to be implemented. Earlier this month, Kejriwal announced that if AAP is voted back to power in the elections, expected to be held in February next year, the amount will be increased to Rs 2,100 per month.
The Sanjeevani scheme, announced last week, promises free treatment to all Delhi voters aged over 60 in government as well as private hospitals.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said, “The registration for the scheme will start tomorrow. No one has to go anywhere or stand in line; our volunteers will come to your home and complete the registration.”
All those willing to get registered will have to present their voter IDs, he said.
Kejriwal said he along with Delhi CM Atishi and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia will also go from door to door to register people.
The announcement comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls where AAP is seeking a third consecutive term.
The AAP and Kejriwal countered the BJP’s accusation that the party was promoting a freebie culture.
“The BJP and the Prime Minister tried to corner us by calling the services we offer to the people free ‘revdis’. We are only giving back to the people from their own money. Providing basic lifeline services to the people is the foundation of our politics. We will not take it as an insult but as a badge of honour,” a senior AAP leader said.
Kejriwal said, “We know how hard our mothers and sisters work. They manage the household, working from as early as 4 in the morning till 10 or 11 at night… Many of these mothers and sisters also go out to work. To ease their lives, we announced that Rs 2,100 will be deposited into their accounts every month.”
“There are many daughters whose college education is interrupted after Class 12 due to financial constraints. With this money they will be able to continue their studies… For homemakers, this amount will assist in managing household expenses amidst the rising inflation due to the Central Government’s policies,” he said.
On the need for the Sanjeevani scheme, Kejriwal said, “Many middle-class people spend their entire lives working hard, paying lakhs and crores in income tax and GST, and contributing to the country’s progress. But after they retire and turn 60…, we have seen that their children sometimes neglect them. The biggest worry in old age is, ‘What will happen to me if I fall ill?’ To all such people, I want to say, ‘You don’t need to worry anymore. The AAP government will take care of you’.”
He said the AAP volunteers will also check whether the names of residents are in the voters’ list released by the State Election Commission.
“Some people are getting your votes deleted on a massive scale… If your vote has been deleted, let our team know, and we will get it reinstated. If you don’t have a voter ID, let us know, and we will help you get it made,” Kejriwal said. “Please keep your voter ID ready, and check its status so that you can register for both schemes when our teams arrive.”
According to officials, there are likely to be 35 lakh beneficiaries of the Mahila Samman scheme and 10-15 lakh beneficiaries of the Sanjeevani scheme.
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