Delhi Lakshmi Yojana SOP Mandates Vaccination Pledges And Data Sharing
The Delhi government has issued the standard operating procedure (SOP) for its Lakshmi Yojana welfare scheme, requiring applicants across Delhi to ensure all children in their family are vaccinated, including girls aged over 14 receiving the HPV vaccine, and to consent to the sharing of their personal data.
The scheme entails a payout of ₹2,500 per month to the eldest woman aged between 21 and 60 in households with an annual income below ₹2.5 lakh. However, the newly released guidelines and application form attach multiple conditions that officials indicate will reduce the scheme's previously estimated pool of 1.7 million beneficiaries.
Under the SOP, applicants must sign an undertaking stating they will ensure family members receive all government-prescribed immunisations, including the HPV jab. While officials clarified that proof of vaccination is not mandatory to submit the application, applicants may be asked to furnish details on vaccination status during verification. A Delhi government official stated that linking the scheme to immunisations is aimed at creating awareness among sections of society that hesitate to get vaccinated.
Health policy expert Dr Chandrakant Lahariya noted that inoculations in India are voluntary. The SOP does not specify how vaccination compliance will be verified or what documentation will be needed. Recently, the Delhi High Court refused to stay the HPV vaccination drive under the Universal Immunisation Programme, rejecting a petition challenging its inclusion.
The application rules also require women to consent to the use of their personal data, including Aadhaar details, for monitoring and evaluation. This information may be shared with authorities, banking partners, and other stakeholders associated with the scheme. Government officials stated that Aadhaar linkage is standard practice for major welfare schemes to ensure benefits reach legal beneficiaries.
Additional conditionalities require applicants to sign online pledges for central social initiatives such as "Ek Pedh Maa ke Naam", "Swachh Bharat", and "No To Single-Use Plastic". Families with a pregnant or lactating woman must also ensure she is registered on the Centre's POSHAN Tracker platform.
Eligibility criteria approved by the cabinet exclude households owning a four-wheeler, consuming more than 2,400 units of electricity annually, or containing income tax payers, GST filers, or government employees. Women with more than three children, those receiving other government pensions or financial assistance, or those with a criminal record are also ineligible. Beneficiaries or their family members must have resided in Delhi for at least 10 years, and applicants must submit a recommendation letter from their local MP or MLA.
