The Government of Delhi on Tuesday allocated ₹7,406 crore to the women and child development department for the 2026–27 financial year, focusing on women’s safety, financial support, skill development, and welfare initiatives for women and transgender persons.
Presenting the budget, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced several new schemes, including assistance for women entrepreneurs, e-auto permits for women and transgender individuals, and the installation of sanitary pad vending machines in government schools.
Out of the total ₹10,537 crore earmarked for the social security and welfare sector, ₹227 crore has been allocated for the welfare of SC/ST/OBC communities.
Major schemes and allocations
The largest portion of the department’s budget—₹5,110 crore—has been set aside for the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana. Ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Gupta had promised ₹2,500 per month for women under this scheme. A similar allocation was made in the previous budget, though the funds were not disbursed.
The government has also allocated ₹10 crore for the Rani Haat initiative, aimed at creating dedicated marketplaces where women entrepreneurs can connect directly with buyers. The initiative is expected to strengthen self-help groups and boost women-led businesses.
Under the newly introduced DURGA scheme (Driving Upliftment and Rozgar for Women/Transgender Green e-Auto), the government plans to support 1,000 women and 100 transgender persons in obtaining e-auto permits in its first phase.
Welfare and financial support
The budget includes ₹260 crore to provide free LPG cylinders to women during Holi and Diwali. Additionally, ₹450 crore has been allocated to continue free travel for women and transgender persons on DTC buses.
Another ₹128 crore has been proposed for the Delhi Lakhpati Betiya Yojana, described as one of the most ambitious initiatives. Under this scheme, deposits totaling ₹61,000 will be made in a girl child’s account from birth to graduation, growing to around ₹1.2 lakh upon maturity.
Focus on safety and infrastructure
To enhance women’s safety, ₹225 crore has been allocated for maintaining existing CCTV cameras and installing 50,000 new ones across the city. An additional ₹50 crore will be used to replace conventional streetlights with smart LED systems on PWD roads to eliminate dark spots.
The government also plans to establish model anganwadi centres in every district, with ₹33 crore set aside for the project. Another ₹16 crore will fund 11 new one-stop centres for women in distress.
Child welfare and support services
Under the Samarth Palana initiative, ₹10 crore has been allocated to upgrade 611 crèches. Further, ₹18 crore will be used to develop an integrated facility for children in correctional homes in Alipur, while ₹3.5 crore has been earmarked for aftercare support, including education, skill development, and livelihood assistance for children leaving childcare institutions.
The Chief Minister also confirmed that sanitary pad vending machines will be installed in government schools to improve menstrual hygiene access.
In the 2025–26 budget, no separate allocation was made for this department, as it was combined under a broader ₹10,047 crore outlay for social welfare, women and child development, and SC/ST programmes.
