From ‘Ladli’ to ‘Pyari, ‘Didis’ eclipse ‘bhaiyas’ in masterstrokes of cash dole-out schemes

So, there is one more woman-centric scheme that has emerged on the election platform. The Congress party has promised to provide Rs 2,500 per month to eligible women under the ‘Pyari Didi’ Scheme if it wins the Delhi Assembly election.

Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar launched the scheme on Monday.

The scheme is being seen in response to AAP’s Mahila Samman Yojana which promises to pay Rs 2100 if AAP returns to power. In December 2024, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal unveiled the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana, which is designed to provide women in Delhi with monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000.He also pledged that, should AAP win the Delhi elections, the amount would be raised to Rs 2,100.

DK Sivakumar referred to schemes centered around women which have been implemented in Karnataka by his government while speaking about the thinking and ideology related to these schemes.

The trend of such schemes focusing on Didis, Behanas & Maiyas was started by then CM of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan when he launched Ladli Behna yojana.

The scheme was said to be instrumental in bucking the anti-incumbency of the last several terms and BJP returned to power.

Though the BJP changed its CM and later moved Shivraj Singh Chouhan to center, every political party was prudent enough to know the success formula.

Schemes like Majhi Laadki Bahin Yojana in Maharashtra, Gruha Jyoti and Gruha Laxmi in Karnataka , Maiya Samman yojana in Jharkhand and such other schemes have become an instrument in making women a sizable vot bank for political parties.

It shows that how the political parties have been making a cunning calculation of voter base in their favour to win the elections by doling out cash to women through these schemes. The parties call it women empowerment but if such schemes increase participation of women in electoral politics is yet not known.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, while these women-centric schemes are being portrayed as a step towards empowerment, they also reflect the growing trend of political parties using financial incentives to sway the female vote. From the Ladli Behna to Pyari Didi , it is crystal clear that these initiatives are shaping the electoral landscape.

However, whether these schemes are truly empowering women or merely a strategic calculation to gain political advantage remains a matter of debate. As political parties continue to refine their approaches, the true impact on women's participation in the democratic process will unfold in the coming years.