PANJIM: Ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections in Goa, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced to give Rs 1,000 per month to all women above the age of 18 years.
Kejriwal also said that if the AAP formed the next government in the State then the Griha Aadhar scheme remuration will be increased from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,500.
Addressing the gathering in Navelim, Kejriwal asserted, “As soon as the AAP government is formed, every daughter above 18 years, sister, mother, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, and grandmother will get Rs 1,000 per month in their accounts. If there are women in a family above 18 years of age including daughter, mother, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother-in-law or grandmother; they will all get Rs 1,000 each”.
Terming it as his “fifth guarantee” and the “world’s biggest women empowerment” programme, Kejriwal said “no government in any part of the world” has implemented such a scheme. He said, “What is women empowerment? When women remain financially independent. There is power in money. When women have their own money, they will achieve freedom”.
He further said, “There are young women who can’t attend college because their fathers do not have money. They can go to college with this money. Women have their own small wishes and aspirations but they are financially dependent on their fathers, husbands and brothers. If AAP comes to power, no woman in Goa will have to be financially dependent on their fathers or husbands for small needs. This scheme will empower women financially. Those families who think they have enough money also have the option to opt out of the program”.
The AAP convenor said his opponents will now ask from where the money will come to fund this programme. “I have made this decision very thoughtfully and with full calculation, because what I say I do. Goa’s budget is Rs 22,000 crores; if we eliminate 20 per cent corruption charges from the budget, which is Rs 4000 crores, we can provide 300 units of free electricity, unemployment allowance, free pilgrimage, Griha Aadhar and monthly allowance to all women above the age of 18 years,”Kejriwal said.
