Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has introduced the Pujari and Granthi Samman Yojana.
This scheme aims to support Hindu temple priests and granthis of gurudwaras by providing them with a monthly honorarium of ₹18,000.
Kejriwal highlighted that this is the first scheme in India to officially recognize the contributions of religious leaders. He announced that the scheme would be implemented once the AAP
government returns to power in Delhi, with assembly elections scheduled for February 2025. Registration for the scheme begins on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that while priests
and granthis have served communities for generations, their families’ needs were often overlooked.
He also revealed plans to launch the scheme at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place, Delhi.
Controversy Surrounding Mahila Samman Yojana
Earlier, Kejriwal announced the Mahila Samman Yojana, which promised ₹2,100 monthly to unemployed women after the assembly elections. However, this announcement led to controversy.
The Women and Child Development Department declared the scheme non-existent and cautioned against sharing personal details.
Following this, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered an investigation into the collection of women’s personal information, based on a complaint by Congress leader Sandeep Dixit.
BJP and AAP Exchange Accusations
The controversy over the Mahila Samman Yojana has added to the challenges faced by the AAP government.
AAP accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating a conspiracy and pressuring officials.
On the other hand, BJP labeled the scheme as fraudulent, claiming discrepancies between AAP and the Delhi government.
The Delhi Police has formed multiple teams to investigate the matter, further escalating tensions.
