Lado Lakshmi Yojana to benefit 20 lakh women in first phase, rollout from September 25
Chandigarh: The Haryana government has launched the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme aimed at empowering women through direct financial support.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the scheme will provide ₹2,100 per month to eligible women, with around 20 lakh beneficiaries expected in the first phase. The rollout will begin on September 25, coinciding with the birth anniversary of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya.
The scheme, backed by a ₹5,000 crore allocation in the 2025-26 state budget, fulfills a major election promise of the BJP. Saini said the initiative reflects the “double-engine government’s” focus on women’s empowerment and social security. Payments will be made directly to bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure transparency.
Applicants can apply online through a mobile app or the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment’s website. Offline applications will also be accepted at Saral Kendras, CSCs, and Women and Child Development offices. Required documents include Aadhaar, residence and income certificates, bank details, Parivar Pehchan Patra, and a passport photo. Lists of beneficiaries will be displayed in panchayats and wards, and applications can be tracked online.
Beneficiaries will be transitioned into other support schemes with age – unmarried women at 45 into the Widow/Destitute Assistance Scheme and married women at 60 into the Old Age Samman Pension. The government has also proposed interest-free loans up to ₹1 lakh for women in agriculture, dairy, and allied sectors.
The BJP has positioned the scheme as a swift fulfillment of its election manifesto, contrasting itself with rivals Congress and AAP. Political analysts say the initiative could boost BJP’s connect with women voters, a decisive factor in recent state elections.
Experts, however, caution that cash aid must be complemented with skill-building and social reforms to ensure genuine empowerment. If expanded to all women in the state, the scheme could cost over ₹21,000 crore annually, raising questions about fiscal sustainability.
The program is expected to significantly improve women’s financial independence in rural and urban areas. The state also plans to integrate skill training and awareness drives to maximize the scheme’s impact.
Who Will Benefit ?
Women aged 23 years and above, married or unmarried.
Families with annual income below ₹1 lakh (to be expanded in later phases).
Permanent residents of Haryana (or women married into the state for at least 15 years).
Multiple women in the same household can avail benefits.
Excluded: women in government jobs, receiving pensions, or from tax-paying families.
