New Delhi:
\nA series of targeted welfare measures aimed at strengthening financial security, mobility, and social empowerment for women in Delhi have been formally rolled out. The initiatives, described as \u201cspecial\u201d for women residents of the capital, include the launch of the Pink Card under the National Common Mobility Card system, the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, the disbursal of funds under the \u201cMeri Punji, Mera Adhikar\u201d drive for Ladli beneficiaries, and financial assistance for free LPG cylinders during Holi and Diwali.<\/p>\n
These schemes are designed to promote transparency, digital governance, and direct financial support while ensuring long-term social impact.<\/p>\n
1. Launch of the Pink Card Under NCMC<\/p>\n
The President inaugurated the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), branded as the \u201cPink Card,\u201d for eligible women residents of Delhi. The Pink Card will enable free travel for women in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses. For other public transportation systems such as the Delhi Metro, Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and additional transit services, the same smart card can be used for paid travel.<\/p>\n
Under the scheme, three types of cards will be issued:<\/p>\n
Pink Card \u2013 For eligible women beneficiaries<\/p>\n
Blue Card \u2013 For general commuters<\/p>\n
Orange Card \u2013 For monthly pass holders<\/p>\n
In the first phase, only the Pink and Blue Cards will be launched.<\/p>\n
DTC has authorized Hindon Mercantile Limited (Mufinpay) and Airtel Payments Bank Limited for issuing the cards. The system will be integrated with an Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system to ensure seamless travel and digital payment processing.<\/p>\n
The Pink Card will be issued completely free of cost, with the Delhi government bearing the entire expense. To facilitate distribution, around 50 centers will be established across the city. These centers will include District Magistrate (DM) offices, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) offices, and selected DTC locations.<\/p>\n
The process has been designed to be simple and transparent. Each Pink Card will be linked to the beneficiary\u2019s Aadhaar number and mobile number. This linkage will verify age, gender, and Delhi residency to ensure eligibility and prevent duplication.<\/p>\n
Officials said the initiative aims not only to provide travel benefits but also to enhance women\u2019s safety, financial independence, and access to education and employment opportunities through improved mobility.<\/p>\n
2. Launch of the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana<\/p>\n
The President also launched the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana, which replaces the earlier Ladli scheme. While retaining the core objective of promoting the birth and education of girls, the new scheme has been redesigned as a more modern, digital, and incentive-based program.<\/p>\n
The primary goal of the scheme is to encourage higher education among girls. Under the program, the government will deposit a total of \u20b961,000 in phased installments in the name of each eligible girl child.<\/p>\n
If the beneficiary fulfills specified conditions, such as completing graduation or a vocational diploma, the accumulated amount\u2014along with interest\u2014will grow to more than \u20b91 lakh by the time she reaches 21 years of age.<\/p>\n
The scheme will operate under a fully digital and faceless system. An end-to-end online portal has been launched to manage registration, verification, and financial tracking. This digital framework aims to eliminate delays and improve transparency.<\/p>\n
Financial management of the scheme will be handled by SBI Life Insurance Company Limited through its \u201cSBI Life Dhanrashi Sadhan\u201d instrument, ensuring secure and structured investment of funds.<\/p>\n
Officials said the redesigned structure focuses on long-term empowerment by linking financial assistance directly to educational milestones.<\/p>\n
3. \u20b9100.25 Crore Transferred Under \u2018Meri Punji, Mera Adhikar\u2019<\/p>\n
As part of the \u201cMeri Punji, Mera Adhikar\u201d initiative, \u20b9100.25 crore was transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 40,642 eligible beneficiaries under the Delhi Ladli scheme.<\/p>\n
Launched in 2008, the Ladli scheme was introduced to promote the birth and education of girls and reduce gender disparities through structured financial assistance at critical stages of education.<\/p>\n
The maturity amount, along with accrued interest, has now been directly transferred to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. The use of DBT ensures transparency, efficiency, and direct access without intermediaries.<\/p>\n
Officials stated that the initiative clears pending disbursals and reinforces the government\u2019s commitment to ensuring that entitled beneficiaries receive their dues without procedural hurdles.<\/p>\n
4. First Installment of \u20b9853 for LPG Cylinder Released on Holi<\/p>\n
The President also launched a scheme providing two free LPG cylinders annually to all ration card holder families in Delhi.<\/p>\n
On the occasion of Holi, the first installment equivalent to the cost of one LPG cylinder\u2014\u20b9853\u2014was transferred directly to the bank accounts of heads of eligible households through DBT.<\/p>\n
Under the scheme, starting in 2026, all ration card holding families in Delhi will receive financial assistance equivalent to the cost of two LPG cylinders every year. The assistance will be disbursed in two installments annually, during Holi and Diwali, to reduce the financial burden on families during major festivals.<\/p>\n
The financial aid will be transferred directly to Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of family heads, ensuring transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n
The estimated annual expenditure for the scheme is approximately \u20b9242.77 crore.<\/p>\n
Officials said the initiative aims to provide economic relief, support household budgets, and enable families to celebrate festivals with dignity.<\/p>\n
Collectively, these four initiatives focus on enhancing women\u2019s mobility, promoting girls\u2019 education, ensuring financial transparency, and providing household relief. The government has emphasized digital integration, direct transfers, and structured implementation to ensure long-term social impact and improved governance outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Delhi: A series of targeted welfare measures aimed at strengthening financial security, mobility, and social empowerment for women in Delhi have been formally rolled out. The initiatives, described as \u201cspecial\u201d for women residents of the capital, include the launch of the Pink Card under the National Common Mobility Card system, the Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":12219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3047],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-noida"],"yoast_head":"\n